Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions his Department has had with outside organisations to discuss policy on reducing the effect of the recession on matters within his Department's responsibility.

Paul Murphy: I have regular engagements with outside organisations on a range of issues relating to the Welsh economy.
	I have recently met the Federation of Small Business Wales, the CBI and the Wales Trades Union Council. In addition I attend the regular meetings of the National Economic Council and the All Wales Economic Summits.

Non-domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with reference to the Answer of 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 458W, on non-domestic rates: Wales, whether the 2005 council tax revaluation in Wales was revenue-neutral excluding the effect of transitional relief.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2180W. The 2005 council tax revaluation and rebanding exercise was revenue-neutral in that increases in council tax receipts during the year of the revaluation and subsequently arose from councils' decisions on raising council tax, rather than the revaluation. The rises were in line with increases in previous years.
	The increase in band D council tax was 3.8 per cent. between 2004-05 and 2005-06; 4.5 per cent. between 2005-06 and 2006-07, and 4.4 per cent. between 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Shellfish: Dredging

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on legislation to establish powers to prohibit scallop dredging in Welsh waters.

Wayne David: I recently discussed with the Welsh Assembly Government provisions in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill that will abolish Sea Fisheries Committees and provide Welsh Ministers further powers to manage fisheries, including scallop dredging, in Welsh waters.
	At present local authority Sea Fisheries Committees are taking the lead role in managing scallop fisheries, within six nautical mile of the Welsh Coast. The Welsh Assembly Government have existing powers to regulate scallop dredging in Welsh waters—principally section 5 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
	I understand that discussions are taking place between WAG and other relevant organisations to develop a joint approach to seek to manage the situation in Cardigan Bay.

Arms Trade: Treaties

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with representatives from the defence industry about the proposed Arms Trade Treaty.

John Hutton: I have regular discussions with representatives of the defence industry and defence trade associations on a range of issues, but to date have not specifically discussed the proposed Arms Trade Treaty.
	The Ministry of Defence fully supports the Government's effort to establish an Arms Trade Treaty that will help prevent the irresponsible trade in conventional weapons. The Department is an active member of the cross-Whitehall team led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that is taking forward this work within the United Nations. The cross-Whitehall team maintains a dialogue with defence industry through regular stakeholder group meetings. During 2009 this work will support the UN process, which is considering elements that might be included in an eventual legally binding treaty.

Departmental Catering

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 486W, on departmental catering, which ethically traded products the defence food services integrated project team has introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: Ethically traded products purchased by defence food services integrated project team, which is responsible for the procurement of food for the armed services on operations and on exercises overseas, are set out in the following list:
	90 per cent. of tea and coffee from fair trade sources
	100 per cent. of pork from British sources
	100 per cent. of milk from British sources
	100 per cent. of eggs from British sources
	100 per cent. of whole gammons from British sources
	100 per cent. of fish from managed sources

Departmental Catering

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 486W, on departmental catering, what recommendations the Sustainability Working Group has made on the procurement of Fairtrade goods for use in  (a) his Department's London headquarters and  (b) the military establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: The Sustainability Working Group was established within the Defence Food Service Integrated Project Team (DFS IPT) to identify opportunities to extend sustainable procurement of food for the armed services on operations and on exercises overseas. The procurement of catering for MOD's London headquarters and for all military establishments is therefore outside the scope of the Working Group.
	Where, however, the DFS IPT identifies Fairtrade products that meet MOD quality requirements and offer value for money, they may be listed on the core range of products supplied for operational feeding to UK armed forces personnel "in barracks" not covered by the Pay As You Dine programme.
	Catering in MOD's London headquarters is provided as part of a multi-activity contract. An extensive range of Fairtrade products is available that includes all coffee served in the deli bar, coffee bar and in the vending machines. A range of other Fairtrade beverages, fruit juices, snack bars and cakes is also available.
	For those military establishments where catering is provided through the Pay As You Dine programme, or as part of a multi-activity contract, the catering contractor may choose to offer Fairtrade products as part of his strategy, although the requirement does not specify that he must. There are a wide variety of such contracts in place across the Department and information on Fairtrade products on offer is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EU Battlegroups

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 90 of the Explanatory Memorandum of 11 December 2008 on the French Presidency Report on European Security and Defence Policy, European Union Document No. 16686/08,  (a) how many troops and  (b) what military assets the UK has contributed to the Force Catalogue.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2348W.

HMS Endurance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what reports he has received of the recent flooding incident of HMS Endurance; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for transporting HMS Endurance to the United Kingdom; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such transportation;
	(3)  when he expects repairs to HMS Endurance to be completed; and when he expects HMS Endurance to be operational.

Quentin Davies: Ministers were notified of the flooding incident in HMS Endurance's engine room on 16 December 2008 and officials have kept us informed of the situation to date.
	A contract has now been signed with Dockwise who will return HMS Endurance to the UK by the heavy lift vessel MV Target. It is currently estimated that the ship will return to the UK around 20 March 2009, weather permitting. Subject to detailed survey, our intention is that the ship will then be repaired prior to her return to service at a date yet to be agreed. I am withholding the cost of the heavy lift contract and the projected repair costs as they are commercially sensitive.

Service Accommodation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence What recent steps the Government have taken to improve service accommodation.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 9 February 2009
	In addition to the increased investment in service accommodation in recent years, over £8 billion will be spent in the next decade, including some £3 billion on improving and upgrading accommodation. The MOD is restrained in much of the work on SFA by the contract with Annington Homes signed in 1996.
	Since 2003, some 29,000 new or improved single living accommodation bed- spaces have been delivered with a further 30,000 planned by 2013.
	Regarding service family accommodation (SFA), over 13,000 properties have been upgraded to the highest standard for condition since 2001, with a further 600 planned in this financial year (FY) and 800 in each year thereafter.
	In addition to upgrading SFA, around £32 million was spent in FY 2007-08 on improvements such as new kitchens or bathrooms, improving the quality of life for service families.

Bail Accommodation and Support Services

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1554W, on approved premises; how many bail hostels other than those operated by ClearSprings  (a) operate and  (b) are planned to open in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) England.

David Hanson: The properties provided by ClearSprings are not bail hostels. What were known as approved hostels, probation hostels and bail hostels are now approved premises. There are 97 approved premises in England, and four in Wales. None are in Eastbourne, and there are no plans to open one there or to expand the number of approved premises in England or Wales. The core purpose of approved premises is to protect the public from offenders who pose a significant risk of harm, and, at 30 November 2008, only 157 of the 2,205 places were filled by defendants on bail.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions wasted costs have been ordered against the defence in Crown courts in each of the last five years; and what the total sum awarded was in each case.

Bridget Prentice: Information on wasted costs orders against the defence in the Crown court and the total sum awarded in each case is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses: Costs

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of the 2006 recruitment campaign for a Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses.

Jack Straw: The total cost of the 2006 recruitment campaign for the role of Victims' Commissioner was £96,625.
	The recruitment exercise for the role of Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses was carried out according to the code of practice for public appointments. The recruitment exercise included the use of an executive search agency specialising in public appointments which targeted individuals perceived to be of the right calibre for the role and public advertisements in relevant publications. However, were not successful in identifying a candidate with all of the appropriate skills necessary for the proposed role and ministers decided not to appoint.

Magistrates Courts: Closures

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1125-6W, on magistrates' courts at Lyndhurst, for what reason any closure of Lyndhurst magistrates' court would be temporary; what criteria would be used to decide when to re-open it following such a temporary closure; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: As part of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), HMCS Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (HMCS HIOW) has to make efficiency savings over the next three years. The proposal to close Lyndhurst temporarily and transfer its work to Southampton, a modern purpose built magistrates court is one of a series of measures identified by local management to improve efficiency and reduce the running costs of the area during this period.
	No decision has yet been made but consideration will be given to the needs of those who live and work in the New Forest area and their ability to access justice.
	A decision to re-open a court following temporary closure would depend on the prevailing factors at that time. All decisions to close individual courts permanently are for Ministers.

Magistrates Courts: Wisbech

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans HM Courts Service has for Wisbech Magistrates' Court.

Bridget Prentice: Wisbech magistrates court is a two criminal court room building in an accessible part of Wisbech. The building is co-located alongside the local police station (Cambridgeshire Constabulary) and their custody suite which is accessed by the courthouse. Cambridgeshire Constabulary are the tenants of HMCS. Many of the building services are linked to the adjacent police station. The courthouse has the use of two cells under a shared arrangement with the police and the Prisoner Escort Service (PECS). Recently Cambridgeshire Constabulary has made public its intention to move custody arrangements to a new county facility in March, Cambridgeshire from the end of March 2009 and will no longer provide this at Wisbech police station. The Wisbech police station will remain as an operational unit. HMCS have been actively involved in discussions with both the Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the PECs delivery organisation (GSL) as to how HMCS can ensure practical occupation of the cell area in order for the HMCS business to continue to operate as usual. Without the use of an available and suitable on site custody suite the use of the courthouse would be considerably reduced which is why the local HMCS area has been working proactively alongside both Cambridgeshire Constabulary and PECs to resolve this situation successfully. There are no current plans or proposals to change or reduce the use of this courthouse.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter of 22 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. I. Laing.

Jack Straw: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 30 January. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

National Identity: Languages

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the United Kingdom has an official language.

Michael Wills: The UK does not have an official language defined in statute, although English is the predominant language by custom and usage. In addition, under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages the UK Government has recognised Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots and Cornish as minority languages within the UK.

Offenders: Personal Records

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 918W, on offenders: personal records, whether the Offenders Index is updated regularly; and when it was last updated.

David Hanson: The Department no longer uses the Offenders Index to provide routine data on reoffending and criminal history. We are currently analysing the final cohorts of offenders extracted from the Offenders Index which are based on data up to December 2006. The Ministry of Justice has no plan for further updates.
	Since 2005, the Ministry of Justice has been using data extracted from its police national computer database to provide the published figures on reoffending. This database is updated weekly.

Reoffenders

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average adult reoffending rate was for  (a) men and  (b) women ex-prisoners after their release in the last five years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table shows the one-year reoffending rates for offenders leaving custody in the first quarter of the years 2002 to 2006, by gender. The table shows the proportion of offenders that committed at least one further offence and the number of further offences committed per 100 offenders.
	
		
			  One-year reoffending rates, offenders leaving custody by gender, 2002-06 
			 Number of offenders  Actual reoffending rate (Percentage)  Number of offences per 100 offenders 
			 Males 2002 Q1 14,385 55.0 283.8 
			  2003 Q1 13,202 53.9 276.8 
			  2004 Q1 14,359 51.8 249.9 
			  2005 Q1 13,353 49.1 227.0 
			  2006 Q1 13,178 46.6 207.5 
			   
			 Females 2002 Q1 1,193 55.8 340.9 
			  2003 Q1 1,156 54.1 305.1 
			  2004 Q1 1,402 53.7 285.2 
			  2005 Q1 1,242 49.1 244.8 
			  2006 Q1 1,202 45.0 218.6 
		
	
	Further information on the one-year rates of reoffending can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm

Reparation by Offenders

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many reparation orders under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 have been issued by each court in each year since 2005.

Maria Eagle: The available information is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of reparation orders( 1)  issued in England and Wales by court type and force area, 2005-07 
			   Year/court type 
			   2005  2006 
			   Magistrates court  Crown court  Total  Magistrates court  Crown court  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 61 — 61 74 — 74 
			 Bedfordshire 8 — 8 16 — 16 
			 Cambridgeshire 28 1 29 40 — 40 
			 Cheshire 36 — 36 16 — 16 
			 Cleveland 45 — 45 49 — 49 
			 Cumbria 8 — 8 4 — 4 
			 Derbyshire 44 — 44 39 — 39 
			 Devon and Cornwall 86 — 86 98 1 99 
			 Dorset 35 — 35 34 — 34 
			 Durham 41 — 41 67 — 67 
			 Essex 51 — 51 69 — 69 
			 Gloucestershire 8 — 8 14 — 14 
			 Greater Manchester 190 1 191 212 2 214 
			 Hampshire 68 — 68 48 — 48 
			 Hertfordshire 45 — 45 64 — 64 
			 Humberside 125 — 125 118 — 118 
			 Kent 88 — 88 114 — 114 
			 Lancashire 100 — 100 160 — 160 
			 Leicestershire 44 — 44 66 — 66 
			 Lincolnshire 16 — 16 29 — 29 
			 Merseyside 80 — 80 90 — 90 
			 Metropolitan Police 202 1 203 311 2 313 
			 Norfolk 26 — 26 70 1 71 
			 North Yorkshire 69 — 69 55 — 55 
			 Northamptonshire — — —- — — — 
			 Northumbria 429 — 429 479 — 479 
			 Nottinghamshire 152 — 152 162 1 163 
			 South Yorkshire 130 — 130 168 — 168 
			 Staffordshire 70 — 70 88 — 88 
			 Suffolk 87 — 87 86 — 86 
			 Surrey 70 — 70 69 — 69 
			 Sussex 89 — 89 144 — 144 
			 Thames Valley 74 — 74 85 — 85 
			 Warwickshire 34 — 34 63 — 63 
			 West Mercia 41 — 41 41 — 41 
			 West Midlands 116 — 116 96 — 96 
			 West Yorkshire 185 — 185 170 — 170 
			 Wiltshire 16 — 16 33 — 33 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 — 5 6 — 6 
			 Gwent 45 3 48 47 — 47 
			 North Wales 52 — 52 69 — 69 
			 South Wales 112 — 112 75 — 75 
			 Total 3,211 6 3,217 3,738 7 3,745 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of reparation orders( 1)  issued in England and Wales by court type and force area, 2005-07 
			   Year/court type 
			   2007 
			   Magistrates court  Crown court  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 87 — 87 
			 Bedfordshire 22 — 22 
			 Cambridgeshire 49 — 49 
			 Cheshire 21 — 21 
			 Cleveland 49 — 49 
			 Cumbria 9 — 9 
			 Derbyshire 40 — 40 
			 Devon and Cornwall 97 — 97 
			 Dorset 53 — 53 
			 Durham 91 — 91 
			 Essex 56 — 56 
			 Gloucestershire 33 — 33 
			 Greater Manchester 295 — 295 
			 Hampshire 56 — 56 
			 Hertfordshire 56 — 56 
			 Humberside 134 — 134 
			 Kent 134 — 134 
			 Lancashire 177 — 177 
			 Leicestershire 63 — 63 
			 Lincolnshire 20 — 20 
			 Merseyside 106 — 106 
			 Metropolitan Police 316 1 317 
			 Norfolk 72 — 72 
			 North Yorkshire 50 — 50 
			 Northamptonshire 56 — 56 
			 Northumbria 491 — 491 
			 Nottinghamshire 157 — 157 
			 South Yorkshire 147 — 147 
			 Staffordshire 88 — 88 
			 Suffolk 80 — 80 
			 Surrey 66 — 66 
			 Sussex 183 — 183 
			 Thames Valley 81 1 82 
			 Warwickshire 82 — 82 
			 West Mercia 50 — 50 
			 West Midlands 85 — 85 
			 West Yorkshire 197 — 197 
			 Wiltshire 17 — 17 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 — 5 
			 Gwent 44 — 44 
			 North Wales 66 — 66 
			 South Wales 71 1 72 
			 Total 4,052 3 4,055 
			 (1) Reparation ciders are only given to young offenders aged under 18  Notes: 1. The statistics given are on a principal offence and primary disposal basis When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences the offences selected is the offences for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe A defendant could be issued with more than one disposal for a committed offence The statistics do not include number of reparation orders given as secondary disposal 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces As a consequence care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit [Ref IOS 86-09]

Repossession Orders: Mortgages

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many suspended possession orders granted by county courts to mortgage lenders were re-activated and enforced during 2008 in cases where lenders obtained warrants for eviction after  (a) three,  (b) six and (c) 10 years or more had elapsed since the original possession order was made in a suspended form;
	(2)  for what reasons HM Courts Service automatically disposes of all court records of suspended possession orders after six years' of inactivity.

Bridget Prentice: There were 866 cases which involved a warrant of possession being issued in 2008 and which followed the original suspended mortgage possession order being made three to five years previously. There were also 103 cases which involved a warrant of possession being issued in 2008 and which followed the original suspended mortgage possession order being made 6-10 years previously.
	The Ministry of Justice does not currently hold statistical information relating to lags between suspended mortgage possession orders made and warrants of possession issues of more than 10 years.
	These figures do not indicate the number of homes actually being repossessed. Issuing a warrant of possession does not necessarily result in repossession.
	HM Courts Service automatically disposes of all possession action files including those involving suspended possession orders after three years' inactivity. Electronic records specifying the incidence and associated dates of suspended possession orders are still available for orders made within the last 10 years. However, record retention and disposition policies do not affect the enforcement of suspended possession orders. It is the duty of claimants to supply the order documents when applying for a warrant of possession to be issued.
	Record retention and disposition policies fall within the remit of the Departmental Records Officer and Head of Record Information and Management Services for the Ministry of Justice. Retention periods are determined by (a) any legislative requirement and (b) the business need of the area to which the schedule relates. No special provisions are made for the retention and disposal of records involving suspended possession orders.

Repossession Orders: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders have been issued for the repossession of homes in each parliamentary constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Figures for each parliamentary constituency in Yorkshire and Humberside region are not available. However, the following tables show the number of mortgage and landlord possession orders made in each county court within Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, county courts in the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region may cover areas other than the parliamentary constituencies of this region. Therefore not all possession actions at these courts necessarily relate to Yorkshire and Humber constituencies.
	Court level statistics on mortgage and landlord repossession actions from 1987 to 2007 are available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.iustice.gov.uk/publications/mortgatelandlord possession.htm
	These figures do not indicate how many homes have actually been repossessed. Repossessions can occur without a court order being made, while not all court orders result in repossession.
	
		
			  Table 1: Mortgage( 1)  possession claims issued in the county courts of Yorkshire and Humberside Government Office region, 1988 onwards 
			   1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998 
			 Barnsley 319 375 417 500 392 331 274 248 315 230 342 
			 Bradford 761 942 1,171 1,665 1,182 996 864 870 967 782 987 
			 Bridlington* 32 27 114 120 110 106 91 103 107 79 — 
			 Dewsbury 418 339 471 767 526 402 361 423 371 347 426 
			 Doncaster 564 478 594 826 571 445 482 471 560 541 652 
			 Goole* 66 50 91 135 96 82 97 122 76 — — 
			 Grimsby 562 447 954 1,028 649 505 436 486 477 470 512 
			 Halifax 468 290 394 649 551 390 425 370 372 338 368 
			 Harrogate 0 113 244 407 338 249 184 200 184 157 163 
			 Huddersfield 223 198 382 442 457 341 331 370 334 307 414 
			 Keighley 173 174 296 372 268 206 210 169 168 154 223 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 596 750 904 1,268 822 721 720 640 685 589 743 
			 Leeds 807 903 1,068 1,463 1,146 937 831 761 896 816 903 
			 Otley* 77 62 119 188 129 124 101 83 — — — 
			 Pontefract 287 241 311 423 286 276 276 242 250 247 264 
			 Rotherham 448 346 523 675 483 413 325 289 345 231 337 
			 Scarborough 128 101 177 271 198 137 129 149 117 140 359 
			 Scunthorpe 159 171 359 455 285 231 239 215 243 364 224 
			 Sheffield 492 664 889 1,211 847 810 632 543 562 533 600 
			 Skipton 72 79 104 175 127 113 93 125 119 92 107 
			 Thorne* 72 68 90 163 102 63 — — — — — 
			 Wakefield 253 194 257 366 259 223 160 191 171 173 217 
			 York 327 368 505 577 456 346 358 332 330 291 368 
			 
			 Yorkshire and Humber GOR 7,304 7,380 10,434 14,146 10,280 8,447 7,619 7,402 7,649 6,881 8,209 
			 Other HMCS North East region 4283 3,894 4,243 5,952 5,192 3,969 3,236 3,264 3,493 3,015 4,298 
			 HMCS North East region total 11,587 11,274 14,677 20,098 15,472 12,416 10,855 10,666 11,142 9,896 12,507 
		
	
	
		
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  (Jan-Sep)( 2) 
			 Barnsley 348 314 247 263 220 255 407 521 615 570 
			 Bradford 1,105 1,000 927 802 770 763 1,099 1,235 1,437 1,342 
			 Bridlington* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dewsbury 481 391 370 300 293 363 552 671 735 698 
			 Doncaster 702 652 616 514 458 550 847 1,195 1,389 1,087 
			 Goole* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Grimsby 555 495 429 399 333 405 630 670 749 599 
			 Halifax 466 351 340 280 252 304 419 510 585 529 
			 Harrogate 187 164 155 118 133 156 233 232 205 160 
			 Huddersfield 424 363 319 272 240 289 446 533 545 543 
			 Keighley 227 187 153 142 145 155 213 241 308 264 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 800 704 632 534 529 579 833 1,011 1,181 956 
			 Leeds 843 773 743 678 661 708 1,078 1,258 1,520 1,328 
			 Otley* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Pontefract 298 266 230 206 197 255 475 534 617 572 
			 Rotherham 436 381 302 277 258 284 484 615 704 672 
			 Scarborough 255 225 244 151 156 195 292 350 441 359 
			 Scunthorpe 284 219 246 217 212 240 380 448 484 450 
			 Sheffield 632 625 536 481 478 509 863 997 1,181 972 
			 Skipton 99 76 95 67 63 51 85 105 133 105 
			 Thorne* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wakefield 266 232 189 149 166 204 342 373 418 364 
			 York 388 341 300 240 303 291 405 463 510 440 
			
			 Yorkshire and Humber GOR 8,796 7,759 7,073 6,090 5,867 6,556 10,083 11,962 13,757 12,010 
			 Other HMCS North East region 3,964 3,958 3,463 3,245 3,055 3,441 5,540 7,079 8,061 7,028 
			 HMCS North East region total 12,760 11,717 10,536 9,335 8,922 9,997 15,623 19,041 21,818 19,038 
			 (1) Mortgage data includes all types of lender. (2) Figures for the latest year are provisional. * County court closed or merged with other county courts. Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Mortgage( 1)  possession orders made( 3,4)  in the county courts of Yorkshire and Humberside Government Office Region, 1988 onwards 
			   1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998 
			 Barnsley 218 199 242 407 337 292 285 240 249 166 182 
			 Bradford 241 313 716 1048 970 1141 561 639 821 771 967 
			 Bridlington* 37 32 93 111 77 111 82 99 98 53 — 
			 Dewsbury(5) 287 179 378 521 588 516 261 344 276 307 448 
			 Doncaster 313 335 415 589 548 343 328 362 428 476 507 
			 Goole* 52 21 69 118 101 78 86 114 73 — — 
			 Grimsby 391 379 546 824 579 522 457 362 516 319 582 
			 Halifax(5) 249 225 442 565 469 294 279 389 384 282 341 
			 Harrogate(5) 26 87 112 254 330 213 142 195 148 123 144 
			 Huddersfield 109 100 362 451 548 296 321 277 338 277 343 
			 Keighley(5) 134 102 208 283 247 181 148 149 164 115 166 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 430 421 547 1,400 556 538 476 390 531 378 779 
			 Leeds 726 350 531 1,101 854 759 463 497 684 752 707 
			 Otley* 47 42 66 142 94 95 66 71 — — — 
			 Pontefract(5) 211 137 221 311 264 189 192 168 138 216 295 
			 Rotherham(5) 314 236 336 503 426 333 236 304 299 306 392 
			 Scarborough 75 68 125 173 170 128 92 132 85 127 185 
			 Scunthorpe(5) 114 110 241 277 272 196 237 155 263 158 194 
			 Sheffield 497 324 545 797 649 517 285 497 389 398 516 
			 Skipton 54 53 71 123 127 107 56 73 75 84 88 
			 Thorne* 36 33 52 132 91 81 — — — — — 
			 Wakefield(5) 247 114 162 259 232 186 147 132 190 221 177 
			 York 238 193 314 455 405 316 274 237 253 258 355 
			 
			 Yorkshire and Humber GOR 5,046 4,053 6,794 10,844 8,934 7,432 5,474 5,826 6,402 5,787 7,368 
			 Other HMCS North East region 3,112 2,521 3,011 4,815 5,309 4,361 3,553 3,129 3,202 2,551 3,469 
			 HMCS North East region total 8,158 6,574 9,805 15,659 14,243 11,793 9,027 8,955 9,604 8,338 10,837 
		
	
	—continued
	
		
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  (Jan-Sep)( 2) 
			 Barnsley 278 251 198 188 148 160 268 351 435 423 
			 Bradford 814 769 732 590 543 500 679 825 935 987 
			 Bridlington* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dewsbury(5) 426 323 325 230 197 256 336 497 — — 
			 Doncaster 380 523 465 376 324 331 540 819 982 882 
			 Goole* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Grimsby 281 385 390 271 223 236 431 515 524 498 
			 Halifax(5) 380 270 297 198 193 161 274 362 — — 
			 Harrogate(5) 127 128 115 77 63 90 157 169 — — 
			 Huddersfield 322 278 274 178 163 174 317 385 370 376 
			 Keighley(5) 172 164 101 115 83 91 127 169 — — 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 703 553 508 414 353 390 559 705 835 688 
			 Leeds 684 611 600 437 448 410 682 876 1,049 997 
			 Otley* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Pontefract(5) 260 197 190 137 156 159 276 375 — — 
			 Rotherham(5) 347 297 262 189 185 191 304 431 — — 
			 Scarborough 219 152 187 106 88 119 184 227 309 289 
			 Scunthorpe(5) 218 152 233 158 145 150 250 335 — — 
			 Sheffield 496 451 359 299 295 303 446 738 803 734 
			 Skipton 72 64 66 46 42 41 52 73 95 92 
			 Thorne* — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wakefield(5) 172 167 157 119 97 157 199 297 — — 
			 York 299 267 221 139 172 172 268 333 338 298 
			
			 Yorkshire and Humber GOR 6,650 6,002 5,680 4,267 3,918 4,091 6,349 8,482 — — 
			 Other HMCS North East region 3,305 3,216 2,935 2,249 2,088 2,145 3,290 5,128 — — 
			 HMCS North East region total 9,955 9,218 8,615 6,516 6,006 6,236 9,639 13,610 15,087 13,178 
			  Notes: (1) Mortgage data includes all types of lender. (2) Figures for the latest year are provisional. (3) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (4) Includes outright and suspended orders, the latter being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually require the defendant to pay the current mortgage or rent instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced. (5) The rollout of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court-level data. Only those county courts who do not have direct on site access to PCOL were affected. Consequently, upward adjustment has been made to estimate the effects of missing data. The figures for these courts are adjusted at HMCS regional level. * County court closed or merged with other county courts.  Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Landlord( 1, 3 ) possession claims issued and orders made( 4, 6)  in the county courts of Yorkshire and Humberside region, 19997 onwards 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003 
			   Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made 
			 Barnsley 472 368 498 378 420 379 577 427 595 448 
			 Bradford 1,085 731 1,166 940 1,251 944 1,202 872 949 761 
			 Dewsbury(5) 658 538 691 610 710 637 672 523 819 654 
			 Doncaster 904 752 759 707 817 699 1,085 889 1,077 917 
			 Grimsby 304 171 312 167 263 218 384 277 427 312 
			 Halifax(5) 395 310 463 325 452 308 569 386 626 442 
			 Harrogate(5) 215 185 210 178 215 164 179 145 181 119 
			 Huddersfield 557 492 551 484 648 532 683 543 687 550 
			 Keighley(5) 169 122 152 128 155 138 153 121 131 100 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 1,691 944 1,699 862 1,544 938 2,534 1,654 2,025 1,208 
			 Leeds 1,306 1,110 2,078 1,508 2,862 2,587 2,056 1,831 1,155 767 
			 Pontefract(5) 288 258 354 317 306 274 287 246 247 219 
			 Rotherham(5) 394 325 529 348 757 606 774 658 795 614 
			 Scarborough 442 300 402 289 443 339 371 300 357 286 
			 Scunthorpe(5) 574 276 622 374 533 511 532 422 492 429 
			 Sheffield 2,664 1,704 2,271 1,601 2,321 1,553 2,808 2,245 2,334 1,592 
			 Skipton 47 32 62 53 70 66 78 57 95 69 
			 Wakefield(5) 268 216 256 266 279 258 267 180 286 245 
			 York 758 605 739 558 689 554 838 632 711 521 
			
			 Yorkshire and Humber GOR 13,191 9,439 13,814 10,093 14,735 11,705 16,049 12,408 13,989 10,253 
			 Other HMCS North East region 9,042 6,674 8,387 6,705 7,915 6,182 8,959 6,733 8,819 6,521 
			 HMCS North East region total 22,233 16,113 22,201 16,798 22,650 17,887 25,008 19,141 22,808 16,774 
		
	
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 (Jan-Sep)( 2) 
			   Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made  Claims issued  Orders made 
			 Barnsley 585 454 688 498 744 536 600 509 423 382 
			 Bradford 1,039 920 1,020 843 934 791 790 595 401 355 
			 Dewsbury(5) 789 596 720 605 461 378 552 — 394 — 
			 Doncaster 1,034 903 814 764 876 719 809 769 592 580 
			 Grimsby 469 364 361 309 424 322 483 536 310 264 
			 Halifax(5) 495 414 494 377 485 333 449 — 274 — 
			 Harrogate(5) 172 125 174 141 184 148 143 — 150 — 
			 Huddersfield 655 533 725 530 603 478 612 489 393 414 
			 Keighley(5) 148 108 172 153 166 139 169 — 56 — 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 1,520 948 1,448 1,066 1,700 1,122 1,359 1,036 914 714 
			 Leeds 1,496 1,060 1,583 1,181 1,215 1,134 1,163 1,002 872 941 
			 Pontefract(5) 399 312 321 281 310 261 277 — 205 — 
			 Rotherham(5) 819 659 614 456 795 594 556 — 321 — 
			 Scarborough 327 229 330 293 360 281 309 285 227 200 
			 Scunthorpe(5) 418 364 389 337 384 309 357 — 294 — 
			 Sheffield 2,486 1,823 2,294 1,724 2,048 1,368 2,012 1,779 1,451 1,671 
			 Skipton 73 62 95 74 59 58 71 55 39 34 
			 Wakefield(5) 358 347 218 175 282 239 279 — 190 — 
			 York 872 588 754 525 677 571 642 513 404 292 
			
			 Yorkshire and Humber GOR 14,154 10,809 13,214 10,332 12,707 9,781 11,632 — 7,910 — 
			 Other HMCS North East region 9,512 6,495 8,244 6,070 8,855 6,120 8,022 — 5,393 — 
			 HMCS North East region total 23,666 17,304 21,458 16,402 21,562 15,901 19,654 15,756 13,303 10,981 
			 (1) Landlord possession data include all types of landlord whether social or private. (2) Figures for the latest year are provisional. (3) Landlord actions include those made under both standard and accelerated procedures. Landlord actions via the accelerated procedure enables the orders to be made solely on the basis of written evidence and shorthold tenancies, when the fixed period of tenancy has come to an end. (4) Includes outright and suspended orders, the latter being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually require the defendant to pay the current mortgage or rent instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced. (5) The rollout of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of court-level data. Only those county courts who do not have direct on site access to PCOL were affected. Consequently, upward adjustment has been made to estimate the effects of missing data. The figures for these courts are adjusted at HMCS regional level.  Notes: The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. Court level data is not available for all landlord possession actions prior to 1999.  Source: Ministry of Justice

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what level of financial support he expects the private sector to provide to the Creative and Business International Network in each of the next three years;
	(2)  how many organisations have agreed to become a strategic partner of the Creative and Business International Network to date; and when he expects to announce these partnerships.

Andy Burnham: Discussions about financial support from the private sector including strategic partnerships, are ongoing, and details will be announced in due course.

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what offers of support his Department's Creativity and Business International Network has received; and how many organisations have pledged to support the initiative with  (a) technology and equipment and  (b) travel.

Andy Burnham: The Creativity and Business Network has been offered support from a large number of creative and business organisations, including the commitment of 24 international 'ambassadors'. A range of public sector bodies, trade organisations, businesses and individuals have also offered help and advice.

Heathrow Airport: Listed Buildings

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of listed buildings which will be lost as a result of the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Barbara Follett: Based upon the information provided by the Department for Transport from its consultation document Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport (2007), English Heritage estimates that six listed buildings will be lost as a result of the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport. The consultation document is available at
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrow consultation/consultationdocument.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 28 January 2008 on behalf of Mr. Richard Cleaver in respect of Pandora Radio, a second copy of which was faxed to his office on 18 June 2008.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 4 February 2009
	I offer the hon. Member an apology for the administrative error in dealing with this correspondence. The issues raised in the letter are the policy responsibility of the Intellectual Property Office, and I understand that a reply will be sent soon from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Memorials: World War II

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Second World War pill boxes have been given statutory designation; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: A total of 148 individual second world war pillboxes have been given statutory designation.

Music: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government has taken to promote access to music for young people in the North East.

Barbara Follett: In November 2007, the Department for Children, Schools and Families announced a £332 million investment in music education. A share of that is automatically allocated to local authorities in the north-east. Since September 2005, the Government have also provided time-limited funding of £1.26 million to The Sage Gateshead to work in partnership with local authorities and other music education providers to enhance opportunities for children and young people across the north-east through its 'Access to Excellence' work. A significant proportion of the 'Access to Excellence' programme has been delivered through Redcar Community College.
	Since September 2006, the Department for Children, Schools and Families' Music and Dance Scheme (which provides means-tested support for children with exceptional potential in music and dance) has invested £638, 000 to enable children to access specialist provision via The Sage Gateshead.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides financial support for the arts through Arts Council England which has supported a number of projects that have helped promote music to young people in the north-east. This includes Youth Choir at Brinkburn Music Festival 2008 (Grants for the Arts Award of £22,000); Monumental Music CIC, Sunderland Music Club (Grants for the Arts Award of £13,420); and Interopera (Grants for the Arts Award of £13,420).
	Since 1999, Youth Music, a regularly funded organisation of Arts Council England, has invested £4,583, 071 in the north-east, through open programmes, the Youth Music Action Zone (CoMusica) and the MusicLeader network for the region. Youth Music has provided a further £40,000 of direct investment in the north-east through Sing Up, the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, of which Youth Music and the Sage Gateshead are partners.
	Support has also been provided via other Arts Council England regularly funded organisations. This includes Jazz Action, which has set up the Milestones Project providing talented young musicians from the north-east with the opportunity to showcase their music in front of a live audience, and Monster Productions, based in the north-east, which run early year musicals throughout the country, including the north-east area.

Newspapers: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to provide financial support to local newspapers in the North East.

Andy Burnham: My Department has no plans at present to provide financial support to local newspapers in the North East. The Digital Britain Interim Report, published on 29 January 2009, recognised that at a local level, the challenges for news organisations are intense. One of the actions recommended in the Report is for Government to invite the Office of Fair Trading, together with Ofcom and other interested parties, to undertake an exploratory review across the local and regional media sector and make appropriate recommendations. I will consider any findings or further recommendations arising from this action.

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value of  (a) awards and  (b) payments made from the New Opportunities Fund for physical education and sport initiatives was in each year since the Fund was established.

Barbara Follett: The Big Lottery Fund has indicated that the value of awards and payments made by BIG and its predecessor body, the New Opportunities Fund for physical education and sport initiatives are shown in the following tables. The figures are UK wide.
	
		
			  Awards Made: 
			   PE and sport in schools (NOPES)  Spaces for sports and arts  School sports coordinators  Community sports programmes  Football foundation  Total value of awards (£ million) 
			 2001-02 0.0 10.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.6 
			 2002-03 36.5 11.8 10.3 0.0 30.0 88.6 
			 2003-04 193.3 0.2 8.9 0.0 0.0 202.4 
			 2004-05 330.6 0.0 7.5 57.1 0.0 395.2 
			 2005-06 66.3 1.6 15.8 23.8 0.0 107.5 
			 2006-07 19.2 0.2 12.0 9.3 0.0 40.7 
			 2007-08 4.9 -0.2 13.1 -0.1 0.0 17.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Payments made 
			   PE and sport in schools (NOPES)  Spaces for sports and arts  School sports co-ordinators  Community sports programmes  Football foundation  Total value of payments (£ million) 
			 2001-02 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 2002-03 1.3 1.8 1.7 0.0 0.0 4.8 
			 2003-04 16.3 8.1 4.9 0.0 3.1 32.4 
			 2004-05 67.2 -0.8 7.1 5.8 5.7 85.0 
			 2005-06 198.1 3.4 13.2 27.2 8.4 250.2 
			 2006-07 172.8 11.6 10.4 24.2 6.7 225.8 
			 2007-08 88.5 0.0 16.3 15.0 6.1 125.9

Sports: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much his Department has paid to Fast Track to date for its work on the Medal Hopes scheme; and how much he expects to pay in each of the next three years;
	(2)  how much his Department has paid to Fast Track for its work on the Medal Hopes scheme to date; and how much he expects to pay to Fast Track for such work in each of the next three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 February 2009
	 To date, the Department have made no payment to Fast Track, who are contracted on a commission only basis.

Tourism

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what subjects were discussed at his Department's most recent tourism summit; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the minutes of the meeting.

Barbara Follett: There are no official minutes from the Department's most recent tourism summit. However, the transcripts of the Prime Minister's and the Secretary of State's speeches are on Visit Britain's website including a transcript of the question and answer session. Details can be viewed at the following web link:
	http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/aboutvisitbritain/corporate events/tourismsummit.asp
	Additionally, a number of outcomes stemmed from the summit including:
	VisitBritain to compile a list of the industry's 'top five asks' of Government.
	To explore ideas on a graduate job scheme for tourism and a development bank focused on supporting investment in the tourism industry.
	The establishment of a cross-Whitehall ministerial group on tourism and high level tourism advisory group, to be chaired by the Minister for Tourism.
	To explore the feasibility of a British City of Culture, potentially every four years.
	To maximise the tourism potential of forthcoming sporting events under the banner of a Decade of Sport.
	Meet with all regional development agencies to discuss the support given to tourism in each region.

Tourism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when  (a) he and  (b) the Minister for Tourism last met the head of tourism in each of the nine regions of England.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 5 February 2009
	 The Secretary of State and I have met a number of representatives and received various representations from the regional development agencies and from the wider tourism sectors in the regions. Last summer the Secretary of State, Minister for Tourism and Minister for Sport met all the chairs of the regional development agencies and I plan to meet each of the regions in the spring to follow up on the fruitful discussions held at the Tourism Summit in Liverpool last month.

Tourism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by  (a) UK tourists visiting overseas destinations and  (b) overseas tourists visiting UK destinations in each of the last 10 financial years.

Barbara Follett: The amounts spent by UK tourists visiting overseas and overseas tourists visiting the UK in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available is as follows(1):
	
		
			  £ million 
			   UK visits overseas  Overseas visits to UK 
			 1998 19,489 12,671 
			 1999 20,020 12,498 
			 2000 24,251 12,805 
			 2001 25,332 11,306 
			 2002 26,962 11,737 
			 2003 28,550 11,855 
			 2004 30,285 13,047 
			 2005 32,154 14,248 
			 2006 34,411 16,002 
			 2007 35,013 15,960 
			  Source: (1) This information was taken from the International Passenger Survey and relates to calendar years.

Tourism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of global tourism the UK has received in each of the last 10 years.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain have advised that the percentage of global tourism the UK has received, in each of the last 10 years that figures are available, is as follows;
	
		
			   UK share of global tourist arrivals (percentage) 
			 1997 3.92 
			 1998 3.88 
			 1999 3.68 
			 2000 3.41 
			 2001 3.08 
			 2002 3.18 
			 2003 3.30 
			 2004 3.37 
			 2005 3.49 
			 2006 3.62 
			 2007 3.40

Tourism

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the wish list his Department has requested from VisitBritain in relation to helping tourism to Britain during the economic downturn.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 5 February 2009
	 VisitBritain have provided some initial thoughts on the industry's main needs, pending their final submission. When it is received, Ministers will give it full consideration with a view to how best to achieve the full potential of tourism to the British economy during the period of the global economic downturn.

Tourism: Greater London

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to promote London as a tourist destination over the next 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: Visit London have advised that it undertakes a range of tourism marketing campaigns to promote the capital internationally, nationally and to Londoners themselves.
	In December last year, Visit London, in partnership with the London Development Agency and the Mayor of London, launched a four-month marketing campaign to stimulate visits to the capital in the build up to Christmas 2008 and the new year. This will run across the capital's key visitor markets including Britain, Europe and North America and will last until the end of March 2009.
	Including match funding from the private sector, Visit London will in total spend £3.25 million in the four months to March on promotional campaigns, which they believe should deliver £70 million in economic benefit to the city. Further marketing activity to promote the capital beyond the end of March 2009 is due to be launched in February.
	In addition, promotion of London will be included in the £6.5 million 'Value for Money Campaign' launched by VisitBritain and VisitEngland at the Tourism Summit held in Liverpool on 8 January. This will build on the current domestic and international Enjoy England campaign, which positions England and Britain as good value destinations.

Tourism: Olympic Games 2012

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on additional funding for tourism to harness the marketing opportunities of the Olympics.

Barbara Follett: There have been no direct discussions between DCMS Ministers and HMT on additional funding for tourism to harness marketing opportunities of the Olympics. However HMT have been invited to attend a cross-Whitehall Ministerial Group on Tourism to discuss priorities within the tourism industry.

World Creative Business Conference

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 14 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1210W, on the World Creative Business Conference, how much his Department has paid to  (a) Edelman and  (b) Acclaim to date; and how much he expects to pay each company in each of the next three years.

Andy Burnham: The cost of Edelman and Acclaim is included within the £1 million allocated towards the running of the World Creative Business Conference in each of the next three years, including 2008-09.

World Heritage Sites

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in respect of which World Heritage sites he has submitted a progress report to the World Heritage Committee for examination at its 2009 session; and on what dates such reports were submitted.

Barbara Follett: My Department has submitted State of Conservation reports to UNESCO's World Heritage Centre for the City of Bath World Heritage Site on 30 January 2009; Edinburgh Old and New Towns World Heritage Site on 30 January 2009; Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site on 30 January 2009; and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site on 2 February 2009.

World Heritage Sites

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which World Heritage sites he expects to be considered by the World Heritage Committee for inclusion on its list of world heritage in danger in 2009.

Barbara Follett: My Department has no plans to put forward any UK World Heritage sites for consideration by the World Heritage Committee for inclusion on the World Heritage in Danger List in 2009.

Departmental Manpower

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the job description is of each official who works for her in her capacity as Minister for the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 5 February 2009
	My Private Office comprises five officials and a special adviser. In addition, the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) which reports to me through the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, comprises 87.3 full-time equivalent staff, a total which includes both established civil servants and agency and interim staff.
	The GOE is responsible for ensuring the Games are delivered on time, on budget and to the benefit of the whole of the UK. It works extensively with other organisations, such as the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), providing important oversight, management and accountability for the games as a whole. GOE is the only body overseeing the entire Olympic project.
	There are five teams within GOE:
	Build and finance—responsible for ensuring the delivery of the Games infrastructure and venues remains on time, and that the whole programme remains on budget and provides value for money;
	Staging—responsible for the myriad of Government commitments and legislative changes necessary to host the world's largest sporting event and assurance of LOCOG's plans and finances in Government's role as funder of last resort;
	Legacy—responsible for ensuring that the Government's ambitious legacy commitments are delivered, including getting 2 million people more active, transforming the heart of east London and inspiring a generation of young people;
	Operations—responsible for overseeing the entire Olympic Project, identifying risks and issues across organisations, managing the Olympic Board and ensuring we are accountable to Parliament and the public; and
	Communications—a small team responsible for working across Government to ensure events and activities are co-ordinated to avoid duplication and wasted resource.
	Job descriptions for each official in my Private Office and in the GOE could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the average cost is of the units being built in the Olympic Village.

Tessa Jowell: Confidential and therefore commercial negotiations are continuing about the costs of the various elements of the Olympic Village. Therefore it is not possible to provide build cost information until those negotiations have concluded.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with  (a) the Mayor of London and  (b) universities over proposals for the legacy use of the Olympics media centre as a university.

Tessa Jowell: My Department is working closely with the Mayor, the London Development Agency, London borough of Hackney and other partners to explore proposals for the legacy use of the International Broadcast Centre/Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC) to ensure that we are able to leave a positive sustainable legacy for the site and for local communities. As part of this work programme, we are working with the Greater London Authority, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Higher Education Funding Council for England to undertake a feasibility study on the need, size, scope and specialisms for a potential new university on the IBC/MPC site, or elsewhere on the Park, as part of the legacy planning for the Park site.

Olympic Games 2012: Waste Disposal

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which sites have been used for disposal of materials and soil from the new Olympic Stadium site in London; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 4 February 2009
	In the construction of the Olympic Park, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will transform a previously contaminated site into an integral part of the long-term regeneration of East London and the wider Thames Gateway. Across the whole site the ODA continues to exceed its 90 per cent. target of reclaiming demolition material for reuse or recycling.
	Where possible, all excavation and demolition waste from the Olympic stadium site is treated at source and the cleansed material, where appropriate, reused or recycled in the landscaping and foundations work of the Olympic Park.
	Where this has not been possible, waste material has been transported off-site for landfill disposal at Environment Agency approved sites across the UK. The locations of those sites are:
	Kings Cliff, Cambridgeshire (Augean Kings Cliff)
	Dudley, West Midlands (Himley Quarry)
	Teesside, North Yorkshire (Impetus Waste Management ICI 3)
	Barling Magna, Essex (Barling Landfill)
	Purton, North Wiltshire (Parkgate Farm Landfill)
	Middlesbrough, Cleveland (Augean Middlesbrough)
	In addition, a small amount of arisings from the stadium site were identified in summer 2008 as containing—or potentially containing—asbestos above the agreed levels. This waste was taken off-site for safe disposal to Powerday landfill facilities at Old Oak Sidings in London.

Assets Recovery Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on the continuation of work undertaken by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to ensure that casework initiated by the ARA in Northern Ireland is taken up by SOCA.

Paul Goggins: As chair of the Organised Crime Task Force I receive regular updates on the assets recovery work of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in Northern Ireland. Since the merger in April 2008 SOCA has adopted, and will continue to adopt, new civil recovery cases in Northern Ireland. Civil recovery is one of a number of tools at SOCA's disposal to tackle criminal finances and profits and it will ensure that the most effective and appropriate asset recovery powers (criminal, civil or tax) are used in each case.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions wasted costs have been ordered against the defence in  (a) Crown courts and  (b) magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the total sum awarded was in each case.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on how many occasions wasted costs have been ordered against the defence in Crown court in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years was not centrally recorded prior to the introduction of a new IT system in October 2006. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the requested information prior to this date.
	There were no orders for wasted costs made against the defence between October 2006 and 31 January 2009 in Crown court in Northern Ireland.
	The magistrates court in Northern Ireland has no power to make a wasted costs order.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions wasted costs have been ordered against the Public Prosecution Service in  (a) Crown courts and  (b) magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the total sum awarded was in each case.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	There were no orders for wasted costs made against the Public Prosecution Service in a Crown court in Northern Ireland over the last five years.
	The magistrates court in Northern Ireland has no power to make a wasted costs order.

Departmental Buildings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 881W, on departmental buildings, what the cost of the works was before occupation.

Paul Goggins: The total cost of the works is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Office name  Size (sq m)  Total cost of works, excluding VAT (£) 
			 Lisburn Chambers, Linenhall Street, Lisburn, County Antrim 2493 1,159,580 
			 Linum Chambers, Bedford Square, Bedford Street, Belfast 2802 998,753 
			 Ballymena Chambers, Parkway, Ballymena, County Antrim 2494 1,055,500 
			 Omagh Chambers, 2 Townhall Square, Omagh, County Tyrone 2265 1,070,633 
			 Foyle Chambers, 35 Limavady Road, Londonderry, County Londonderry 2364 (1)945,000 
			 (1) Anticipated total cost.

Departmental Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 86-87W, on departmental official residences, who pays the council tax bills for the mainland Britain residential accommodation.

Shaun Woodward: My Department pays the council tax bills for residential accommodation used by staff based in London who are required to work away from their appointed office in Belfast.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which external organisations his Department has engaged to provide training for fast stream civil service staff in the last three years; and how many civil servants in his Department have participated in the provision of training for external organisations in that period.

Shaun Woodward: The following list gives the external organisations engaged by the Northern Ireland Office to provide training for Fast Stream staff in the past three years.
	 External provider
	National School of Government
	Eglinton
	During the past three years, 29 staff from Northern Ireland Office have participated in the provision of training to external organisations.

Arms Trade

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his US counterpart on the US administration's support for the Arms Trade Treaty process; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1194W.
	Although the US voted against the resolution at the UN General Assembly vote in December 2008, the US delegation took part in the UN meeting in New York on 23 January 2009 preparing for the Opening Ended Working Group, which starts in March 2009. This is an encouraging sign, and shows that the US remains engaged in discussions on this issue.
	We will be raising the Arms Trade treaty, alongside a wide range of other subjects with the new US Administration over the next few weeks, as both senior appointees and officials take up their new positions.

Bangladesh: Elections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing to Bangladesh to ensure that the elections scheduled for 29 December 2008 are free and fair.

Bill Rammell: The Department for International Development contributed £10 million to compile the new voters register, £1.1 million through the Asia Foundation to promote accountability and issue-based non-violent campaigning. We funded a country-wide scheme to motivate vulnerable groups to register to vote. The UK also made financial or human resources available to the EU and ANFREL (Asian Network for Free Elections) election observation missions.
	In his statement of the 31 December 2008, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary commented on the successful elections. This is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view= News&id=l1710213.

Community Relations: Islam

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding the Government has provided for research on the ways in which Muslims are perceived in the UK; which Departments have allocated funds for this purpose; and which of the Government's international counterparts have co-operated with the UK in funding the research.

Sadiq Khan: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not commissioned any research solely for the purpose of investigating perceptions of Muslims within the UK. A number of pieces of Government research do provide evidence from which it would be possible to infer how Muslims 'may' be perceived. Examples of these include:
	The Communities and Local Government Citizenship Survey; a large scale nationally representative survey intended to understand people's views on issues such as race equality, faith, feelings about community, volunteering and participation. It is possible to analyse responses by the faith of respondents. In addition, questions on perceptions of the subjects of discrimination include an option to select 'Muslim' as one of a number of responses.
	The University of Kent 'Equality, Diversity and Prejudice in Britain' (commissioned by the Government Equalities Office, previously part of CLG); includes research on positive/negative perceptions of 11 social groups, one of which was Muslims.
	The Department for Work and Pensions 'Barriers to employment for Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in Britain and Constraints'; looks at a number of issues, including perceptions towards two minority groups that are predominantly Muslim.
	All of the above research projects were funded solely by the UK Government. It is not possible to attribute costs to the specific elements or questions which relate to perceptions of Muslims in the UK, as one question or interview can be analysed from a number of standpoints.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report by the UN panel of experts (S/2008/773), with particular reference to its allegation that the Rwandan Government has provided support to the rebel group the National Congress for the Defence of the People in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bill Rammell: Accusations that the Governments of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are complicit in supporting rebels are serious, and should be considered carefully in light of the evidence presented. The UK broadly supports the recommendations of the UN Group of Experts in their most recent report.
	However, whether these recommendations are followed, and whether sanctions will be applied against anyone as a result of the report, are questions for the DRC Sanctions Committee as a whole. Member states will need to consider collectively what the next steps will be.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which websites were operated by his Department in addition to its main website in the last five years.

Caroline Flint: In addition to the main website, www.fco.gov.uk, the following websites have been operated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) web team and the FCO's overseas posts during the last five years:
	Afghanistan Conference 2006
	Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
	Britain USA (British Embassy Washington)
	Britaus (British High Commission Canberra)
	British Consulate General Hong Kong
	British Consulate General, Hong Kong, Chinese
	British Embassy Beijing
	British Embassy Beijing - Chinese
	British Embassy Berlin
	British Embassy Berlin - German
	British Embassy Copenhagen
	British Embassy Copenhagen, Danish
	British Embassy, Abu Dhabi
	British Embassy, Addis Ababa
	British Embassy, Algiers
	British Embassy, Algiers, French
	British Embassy, Amman
	British Embassy, Ashgabat
	British Embassy, Ashgabat - Russian
	British Embassy, Ashgabat - Turkmen
	British Embassy, Astana
	British Embassy, Astana - Russian
	British Embassy, Athens
	British Embassy, Athens, Greek
	British Embassy, Baghdad
	British Embassy, Baghdad - Arabic
	British Embassy, Bahrain
	British Embassy, Baku
	British Embassy, Baku, Azeri
	British Embassy, Bangkok
	British Embassy, Bangkok Thai
	British Embassy, Beirut
	British Embassy, Beirut Arabic
	British Embassy, Belgrade
	British Embassy, Belgrade - Serbian
	British Embassy, Berne
	British Embassy, Bogota
	British Embassy, Bogota, Spanish
	British Embassy, Bratislava
	British Embassy, Bratislava Slovakian
	British Embassy, Brazil
	British Embassy, Brazil, Portuguese
	British Embassy, Brussels
	British Embassy, Brussels, Dutch
	British Embassy, Brussels, French
	British Embassy, Bucharest
	British Embassy, Bucharest - Romanian
	British Embassy, Budapest
	British Embassy, Budapest, Romanian
	British Embassy, Buenos Aires
	British Embassy, Buenos Aires, Spanish
	British Embassy, Burma
	British Embassy, Cairo
	British Embassy, Caracas
	British Embassy, Caracas - Spanish
	British Embassy, Chisinau
	British Embassy, Chisinau - Romanian
	British Embassy, Chisinau - Russian
	British Embassy, Dakar
	British Embassy, Dakar, French
	British Embassy, Damascus
	British Embassy, Doha
	British Embassy, Doha - Arabic
	British Embassy, Dublin
	British Embassy, France
	British Embassy, France, French
	British Embassy, Guatemala City
	British Embassy, Guatemala City, Spanish
	British Embassy, Harare
	British Embassy, Havana
	British Embassy, Havana, Spanish
	British Embassy, Helsinki
	British Embassy, Helsinki, Finnish
	British Embassy, Helsinki, Swedish
	British Embassy, Holy See
	British Embassy, Italy
	British Embassy, Italy - Italian
	British Embassy, Jakarta
	British Embassy, Kabul
	British Embassy, Kathmandu
	British Embassy, Kiev
	British Embassy, Kiev, Ukrainian
	British Embassy, Kigali
	British Embassy, Kuwait - Arabic
	British Embassy, La Paz
	British Embassy, La Paz, Spanish
	British Embassy, Lima
	British Embassy, Lima - Spanish
	British Embassy, Lisbon
	British Embassy, Lisbon - Portuguese
	British Embassy, Ljubljana
	British Embassy, Ljubljana - Slovenian
	British Embassy, Luanda
	British Embassy, Luanda, Portuguese
	British Embassy, Luxembourg
	British Embassy, Madrid
	British Embassy, Madrid, Spanish
	British Embassy, Managua
	British Embassy, Managua - Spanish
	British Embassy, Manila
	British Embassy, Mexico
	British Embassy, Mexico - Spanish
	British Embassy, Minsk
	British Embassy, Montevideo
	British Embassy, Montevideo - Spanish
	British Embassy, Muscat
	British Embassy, Muscat - Arabic
	British Embassy, Oslo
	British Embassy, Oslo - Norwegian
	British Embassy, Panama City
	British Embassy, Panama City - Spanish
	British Embassy, Phnom Penh
	British Embassy, Podgorica
	British Embassy, Prague
	British Embassy, Prague - Czech
	British Embassy, Rabat
	British Embassy, Rabat - Arabic
	British Embassy, Rabat - French
	British Embassy, Reykjavik
	British Embassy, Riga
	British Embassy, Riga - Latvian
	British Embassy, Riyadh
	British Embassy, Russia
	British Embassy, Russia Russian
	British Embassy, San Jose
	British Embassy, San Jose, Spanish
	British Embassy, San Salvador
	British Embassy, San Salvador - Spanish
	British Embassy, Sanaa
	British Embassy, Sanaa - Arabic
	British Embassy, Santiago
	British Embassy, Santiago, Spanish
	British Embassy, Sarajevo
	British Embassy, Seoul
	British Embassy, Seoul - Korean
	British Embassy, Skopje
	British Embassy, Sofia
	British Embassy, Sofia, Bulgarian
	British Embassy, Stockholm
	British Embassy, Stockholm - Swedish
	British Embassy, Sudan
	British Embassy, Sudan - Arabic
	British Embassy, Tajikistan
	British Embassy, Tajikistan - Russian
	British Embassy, Tallinn
	British Embassy, Tallinn, Estonian
	British Embassy, Tallinn, Russian
	British Embassy, Tashkent
	British Embassy, Tashkent - Russian
	British Embassy, Tbilisi
	British Embassy, Tegucigalpa
	British Embassy, Tegucigalpa, Spanish
	British Embassy, Tehran
	British Embassy, Tehran - Farsi
	British Embassy, Tel Aviv
	British Embassy, The Hague
	British Embassy, The Hague - Dutch
	British Embassy, Tirana
	British Embassy, Tirana, Albanian
	British Embassy, Tripoli
	British Embassy, Tripoli Arabic
	British Embassy, Tunis
	British Embassy, Tunis - French
	British Embassy, Turkey
	British Embassy, Turkey - Turkish
	British Embassy, Ulaanbaatar
	British Embassy, Ulaanbataar Mongolian
	British Embassy, Vienna
	British Embassy, Vietnam
	British Embassy, Vietnam Vietnamese
	British Embassy, Vilnius
	British Embassy, Vilnius - Lithuanian
	British Embassy, Warsaw
	British Embassy, Warsaw - Polish
	British Embassy, Yerevan
	British Embassy, Yerevan, Armenian
	British Embassy, Zagreb
	British Embassy, Zagreb, Croatian
	British Embassy,Quito
	British Embassy,Quito, Spanish
	British High Commission, Accra
	British High Commission, Bandar Seri Begawan
	British High Commission, Bandar Seri Begawan, Malay
	British High Commission, Banjul
	British High Commission, Belmopan
	British High Commission, Bridgetown
	British High Commission, Colombo
	British High Commission, Dar es Salaam
	British High Commission, Dhaka
	British High Commission, Dhaka, Bangla
	British High Commission, Freetown
	British High Commission, Gaborone
	British High Commission, Georgetown
	British High Commission, Islamabad
	British High Commission Islamabad, Urdu
	British High Commission, Jamaica
	British High Commission, Kampala
	British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur
	British High Commission, Lilongwe
	British High Commission, Lusaka
	British High Commission, Maputo
	British High Commission, Maputo Portuguese
	British High Commission, Maseru
	British High Commission, Mbabane
	British High Commission, Nairobi
	British High Commission, Nassau
	British High Commission, New Zealand
	British High Commission, Nicosia
	British High Commission, Nigeria
	British High Commission, Ottawa
	British High Commission, Ottawa, French
	British High Commission, Port Louis
	British High Commission, Port Moresby
	British High Commission, Port of Spain
	British High Commission, Port Vila
	British High Commission, Singapore
	British High Commission, South Africa
	British High Commission, Suva
	British High Commission, Valletta
	British High Commission, Victoria
	British High Commission, Windhoek
	British High Commission, Yaounde
	British High Commission, Yaounde, French
	British Office Pristina, Kosovo
	British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan
	British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan (Chinese)
	Caribbean (demonstration site)
	Consulate-General, Jerusalem
	Consulate-General, Jerusalem Arabic
	Crossroads For Ideas
	Design UK Japan
	Domican Republic Spanish
	Dominican Republic
	E-Media (best practice website for staff)
	FCO Arabic website
	FCO Urdu
	Freedom Of Information
	G8 Gleneagles 2005
	Governor to the Cayman Islands
	i-uk China
	i-uk General Arabic
	i-uk Germany
	i-uk Germany German
	i-uk Netherlands
	i-uk.com
	i-uk. com Finland
	i-uk. com France
	i-uk. com India
	i-uk. com Malaysia
	i-uk.com South Africa
	Rugby World Cup 2007
	Rugby World Cup 2007
	Shanghai Expo 2010
	UK Delegation to NATO
	UK Delegation to the OECD
	UK EU presidency 2005
	UK EU presidency 2005, French
	UK Food Japan
	UK in India
	UK International Policing
	UK Japan 2008
	UK Mission to the United Nations, Geneva
	UK Mission to UN, New York
	UK Now - Seoul
	UK Now - Seoul, Korean
	UK Permanent Representation to the Conference on Disarmament
	UKNow - Japanese
	UKNow Japan
	UKvisas

Departmental Secondment

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department are on secondment, broken down by  (a) job title,  (b) grade and  (c) department or institution from which they are seconded.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 2 February 2009
	As at 1 January 2009 there were 267 officials seconded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from a wide range of other Government Departments or institutions. The 267 officials comprise 29 senior management level, 11 at D7, 98 at D6, 31 at C5, 84 at C4, 13 at B3 and one at A2 level. For security reasons it would be inappropriate to provide a breakdown by job title and department or institution.

Guantanamo Bay: Detainees

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek the return to the UK of British residents detained in Guantánamo Bay.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 20 January 2009
	 By December 2007 the Government had secured the return from Guantanamo Bay of four individuals previously lawfully resident in the UK. The UK has, since August 2007, sought the release and return of two further former residents, Mr. Shaker Aamer and Mr. Binyam Mohamed, who remain in detention at the facility.
	We remain in ongoing discussions with the US regarding Mr. Mohamed's case and continue to press for his release and return at all levels. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised the case with former Secretary of State Rice, as has our Ambassador in Washington with senior members of the US Administration. Senior UK officials across government have also raised with their counterparts in State Department, Department of Defence and NSC.
	The US has not agreed to release and return Mr. Aamer to the UK in light of security concerns expressed in relation to his case. We maintain dialogue with them regarding Mr. Aamer's welfare but are no longer in active negotiations for his return to the UK. Our request for his release and return remains open should the US position change.

Languages

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 16 July 2008, how many of his Department's staff received language training in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07, broken down by language.

Gillian Merron: I will write to the hon. Member separately, and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

Palestinians: Diplomatic Relations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on holding discussions with elected Palestinian representatives in Gaza.

Bill Rammell: President Abbas is the elected leader of the Palestinian people. We work very closely with him and his government.
	We do not believe it is productive to talk to Hamas directly until it makes significant movement towards the Quartet principles of rejecting violence, accepting Israel's right to exist and recognising previous agreements. The Arab League has mandated Egypt to communicate with Hamas. We are in regular contact with both the Arab League and Egypt. Turkey, Syria, Qatar and others are also speaking to Hamas.

Somalia: Armed Conflict

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Ethiopian counterpart on Ethiopia's announcement that it will withdraw its troops from Somalia by 31 December 2008.

David Miliband: My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Security and Counter-terrorism at the Home Office, Lord West, discussed Ethiopia's withdrawal from Somalia during his meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, on 12 December 2008 in Addis Ababa. At the meeting, Mr. Meles confirmed that Ethiopian forces would withdraw from Somalia by the end of the year.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking on the Tamil conflict in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 29 January 2009
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 29-32WS.

USA: Armed Forces

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1795-96W, on USA: Central Asia, what the grade is of each of the two personnel from his Department contributing to the work of the American Central Command Assessment Team.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 January 2009
	 Foreign and Commonwealth Office participation in the American Central Command Assessment Team comprised one D7 grade officer and one Senior Management Structure officer. The UK was pleased to be able to contribute to the wide-ranging discussion on security, rule of law and issues of global concern.

Carbon Emissions: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 22 October 2008,  Official Report, column 361W, on carbon emissions: waste disposal, whether the work on estimating dioxin emissions from domestic burning has been completed.

Jane Kennedy: No. The current contract should be completed by the end of this financial year.

Departmental Buildings

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on  (a) maintaining,  (b) decorating and  (c) otherwise improving departmental buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on departmental decoration.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has 230 properties on its portfolio, most of which have minor decorative work carried out as part of ongoing maintenance. These works are not always recorded separately from other associated works.
	Gathering the data together would incur a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Waste: Contracts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 842W, on domestic wastes: contracts, if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) peer review of WR0106 and  (b) the final report for WR0506.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA's arrangements for publishing peer reviews are set out in its science handbook. This requires peer reviews to be carried out on completed, published reports in certain defined cases.
	In this case, a peer review was carried out on a draft research report before its completion or publication. In accordance with standard practice, therefore, it would not be appropriate to publish it.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the programme's contribution the Leader programme may make to reducing flood risk; what the budget for the next three years is; what type of project is eligible for consideration under the programme, and what criteria have to be met; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Leader approach is a delivery mechanism for the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013. It is a method of harnessing local knowledge to enable a bottom up, community led approach to the delivery of funding in rural areas. The Leader approach is being implemented through local action groups, which represent public and private partners and local interest groups covering broad sectors of the local society and economy.
	Local action groups are implementing local development strategies setting out their plans for their areas, including selection criteria for local projects. The regional development agencies are responsible for the overall management of the delivery of the Leader approach.
	A minimum of 5 per cent. of the EU funds within the Rural Development Programme for England will be spent through Leader. This means a minimum of £105 million across the country until 2013.
	Reduction of flood risk has not been identified as a national priority for Rural Development funding. However, individual local action groups may have identified environmental management activity as a priority for them and within that there is scope for small scale interventions to encourage community engagement in flood management.

Inland Waterways

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to grant cruiseway status to the Kennet and Avon canal.

Huw Irranca-Davies: British Waterways has the discretion to apply to DEFRA for cruiseway status to waterways of remainder status, such as the Kennet and Avon canal. British Waterways has confirmed that it intends to submit its proposal for reclassification of the Kennett and Avon canal shortly. Ministerial consideration of the proposal will then be subject to the outcome of the consultation and other statutory procedures prescribed by the Transport Act 1968.

Nature Conservation

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the European Commission's proposals for an EU-wide regulatory approach on non-native invasive species in its Communication entitled Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Commission's proposals are still at a very formative stage and detailed proposals have not yet been brought forward for thorough evaluation. I am aware that options are still being appraised by the Commission and we expect member states to be further involved in discussions soon. The UK has attended all previous meetings with the Commission on development of these ideas and as we now work to implement the "Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain", we are well placed to contribute to the development of an EU strategy. On 3 February I laid in Parliament an Explanatory Memorandum on the Commission's Communication.

Nature Conservation

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the Convention on Biological Diversity's proposals for a global approach on non-native invasive species.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Invasive alien species are a major global threat to biodiversity and the Government support the work done under the Convention on Biological Diversity to promote concerted efforts to tackle this. The "Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain" has at its core one of the key invasive species guiding principles agreed by the parties to the convention—advocating prevention, early detection with rapid eradication and finally, management or control as the most cost effective policy approach. The GB strategy will enable us to take forward many areas of work relevant to implementing the decisions of the parties.
	At the ninth conference of the parties in Bonn in 2008, along with a small number of other parties, we signalled our commitment to tackling this issue under the Convention with a signed ministerial commitment presented at an event hosted by the global invasive species programme. As part of implementing a more strategic approach, the Government are also supportive of current proposals to develop a stronger EU framework to help address key issues at that scale.

Noise: Pollution

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what amendments have been made to local authority powers to tackle noise since 2001; and what his Department's policy is on noise from church bells.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Since 2001, the following amendments have been made to local authority powers to tackle noise.
	The Noise Act 1996 has been amended by the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 so that the Noise Act powers are easier for local authorities to use.
	The Noise Act 1996 has been amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which extended the Noise Act to licensed as well as domestic premises. Local authorities have a discretionary power to prosecute or issue a fixed penalty notice for night noise above the 'permitted level' emitted from a dwelling or licensed premises between 11 pm and 7 am.
	Sections 69-81 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced new powers for local authorities to deal with audible intruder alarms in their area. A local authority may designate its area (or parts of it) as an alarm notification area. The occupier or owner in respect of any premises that are fitted with an audible intruder alarm in the designated area must nominate a key holder for those premises and notify the local authority of the contact details of that key holder.
	The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 also introduced powers for local authorities to enter premises in order to silence audible intruder alarms where key holders cannot be reached, or where the alarm is not in an alarm notification area. These powers of entry apply to audible intruder alarms sounding for 20 minutes continuously or one hour intermittently, and likely to cause annoyance to those in the vicinity.
	Section 80 (2A) of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced a discretionary power for local authorities to take such other steps as it thinks appropriate to persuade the appropriate person to abate a statutory nuisance from noise within a seven-day period without serving an abatement notice. An abatement notice must still be served after the seven-day period if the local authority thinks that a statutory nuisance still exists, or is likely to occur or recur, and the abatement notice can be served at any point within the seven days.
	Complaints about noise from church bells would be subject to part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended), but we would expect common sense to be applied to the handling of complaints not least because church bells are part of our culture and heritage.

Civil Servants: Housing

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance the Cabinet Office has issued on the provision of housing allowances for second homes as remuneration to staff in  (a) the Civil Service and  (b) non-departmental public bodies.

Tom Watson: The rules and guidance for Departments on civil servants' pay and allowances are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. General guidance on terms and conditions for NDPB staff is set out in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments and in the HM Treasury publication Managing Public Money. Copies of all publications are available in the Library of the House.

Civil Service: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1431W, on the Civil Service: pensions, for what reason the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme resource accounts were not laid before Parliament after the House returned in the autumn of 2008; and when he plans to publish them.

Liam Byrne: The accounts were laid before Parliament on 22 January 2009 [HC60].
	In my written ministerial statement of 16 December 2008, I referred to some overpayments made to pensioners of public sector pension schemes, including the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
	The Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts contain reference to these overpayments. The decision was taken not to publish the accounts until such time as we had sufficient information to be able to inform those pensioners affected. Critical to this decision was the need to avoid unnecessary public concern among the vast majority (95 per cent.) of civil service pensioners who were entirely unaffected, but who would not have known that had a general announcement been made. Letters were sent to affected pensioners on 15 December and the statement, formally notifying Parliament of the overpayments, was made on 16 December.

Community Assets Programme

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster according to what criteria funds are allocated from the Community Assets Fund for councils to renovate community assets in preparation for the transfer of their management or ownership to community groups.

Kevin Brennan: To be eligible to apply for the Community Assets programme, applications had to be made by either the local authority that owned the asset to be transferred, or a third sector organisation that the asset would be transferred to. In each case the application had to be endorsed by the other partner, and supported by the wider community. The transfer could be in the form of a registered freehold or a registered and assignable lease of at least 20 years without a break.
	Applications had to address the three programme outcomes to be considered for funding:
	1. Local third sector organisations have greater security and independence, and are better able to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
	2. Communities have more access to better quality facilities that respond to their needs.
	3. There is more effective partnership working between local authorities and the third sector.
	Subject to meeting the initial eligibility criteria, projects were then assessed against the two following criteria:
	1. The proposed project outcomes meet an identified need and help to achieve the programme outcomes.
	2. The organisation can deliver the project well and achieve the proposed outcomes.
	On the basis of assessment against these criteria, 38 in-principle grants were awarded in April 2008. A full breakdown of the above criteria and published guidance on the Community Assets Programme can be found at:
	www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.

Departmental Location

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Cabinet Office posts have been relocated away from London and the South East since the adoption of relocation targets arising from the 2004 Spending Review; and when he expects these targets to be met.

Tom Watson: The Lyons Review set relocations to be achieved by 2010-11. Details of the numbers of Cabinet Office posts relocated in relation to SR 2004 Lyons Review were last reported in Cabinet Office Autumn Performance Report 2008 which is available in the Libraries of the House for the reference of members.

Departmental Publications

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects his Department to publish the next edition of Public Bodies.

Tom Watson: I refer the right hon. Member to the statement I made on 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 31WS.

Higher Civil Servants: Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W, on the recording of hospitality received by senior civil servants in 2007, how he plans to publish the list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards during 2007; and what timetable he has set for publication.

Tom Watson: Hospitality received by members of departmental boards will be published shortly and copies placed in the Library of the House.

Non-profit Associations

John Grogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost of the national survey of third sector organisations was; and what percentage of surveys were returned completed.

Kevin Brennan: The National Survey of Third Sector Organisations closed with a final national response rate of 47 per cent. The cost of the survey is commercially confidential, and the release of this information would adversely affect Government's commercial interests in contracting future work of this sort.

Voluntary Work

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1126-27W, on v, how many  (a) full-time,  (b) part-time and  (c) short-term opportunities have been created by v to date; and how many volunteers on average have filled each of these opportunity types.

Kevin Brennan: Up to the end of January 2009 v had created over 875,000 opportunities to volunteer and 311,000 had been completed by volunteers. This is an increase from the 251,000 volunteers that had completed opportunities by the end of September 2008.
	The following table provides a breakdown of opportunities commissioned and completed by the type of opportunity:
	
		
			  Type of opportunity  Opportunities commissioned  Opportunities completed 
			 Full-time 17,000 5,000 
			 Part-time 400,000 165,000 
			 Short-term 458,000 141,000 
			 Total 875,000 311,000 
		
	
	Volunteering opportunities can play a hugely important role in enabling people to develop new skills and improve their employment prospects. In recognition of this, today the Government are publishing 'Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises', a £42.5 million plan to support the third sector to deliver real help to people, communities and businesses during the recession. The plan contains a volunteer brokerage scheme for unemployed people which will create over 40,000 opportunities to learn new skills and give back to communities through volunteering. Copies of 'Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises' have been placed in the Library of the House.

Heathrow Airport: Exhaust Emissions

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many flight hours were expended by commercial aircraft in 2007-08 in stacking while awaiting clearance to land at Heathrow; and how much carbon dioxide was emitted by those aircraft while stacked.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport's report, 'Improving the Air Passenger Experience', provides appropriate estimates of aircraft stacking above Heathrow in Figure 27 on page 25. This report is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/airports/improve airpassenqer.pdf
	Data for 2007-08 are not available, however in 2006-07, aircraft were held in aggregate for 18,679 hours. This is based on 56 per cent. of arriving aircraft being held in a stack and an average 8.5 minute hold for those held. This equates to roughly 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted by aircraft stacking at Heathrow.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which groups of people are exempt from paying tolls for crossing the Humber Bridge; what estimate he has made of the annual revenue foregone as a result of such exemptions; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Concessions and exemptions are a matter for the Bridge Board. Exemptions are offered on a voluntary basis for certain disabled users (those on higher rate disability living allowance). Emergency services also receive exemption from tolls when on official duties.
	In addition, on 28 July 2006, the Humber Bridge Board announced that it would discount toll charges for the local bus service (the X1) by 45 per cent. until the end of March 2008 to ensure it would continue to offer a service over the bridge. This concession remains in place and is subject to periodic review.
	No estimation has been made by the Department for Transport for the amount of annual revenue forgone as a result of these exemptions.

Railways: Disabled

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to provide high-quality and integrated disabled passenger assistance on the rail network.

Paul Clark: The Railways for All strategy, published in March 2006, identifies the importance of improved information, ticketing and assistance to improving access to the railway network.
	Front-line railway staff are trained in disability awareness and will always endeavour to help disabled customers. Assistance can also be booked in advance using the Assisted Passenger Reservation Service (APRS) which is owned and maintained by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).
	Access for All funding of £280,000 has already been provided to ATOC towards development of staff training materials, and a programme of station access audits to improve the quality of information available through the National Rail Enquiry Service.
	In addition the £370 million Access for All programme is making enhancements to railway stations which help to promote independent travel for disabled people.
	In light of passenger feedback, and in particular the recent Passenger Focus report into Assisted Passenger Reservation Service bookings, published September 2008, the Department for Transport intends to work with the industry to address potential areas for improvement to the Assisted Passenger Reservation Service system, and to identify what resources may be available to support this.

Railways: Fares

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 148, which rail fares have reduced because of the capping system.

Paul Clark: holding answer 3 February 2009
	 The Department for Transport does not hold this information. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) does however track all rail fares, and reports on the high level results on a quarterly basis. The ORR can be contacted for more information at the following address:
	Office of Rail Regulation
	One Kemble Street
	London WC2B 4AN

Speed Limits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roads in  (a) Leicester East constituency and  (b) England have a speed limit of 20 mph.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This formation is not held by the Department. Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits and have had powers to introduce 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones without seeking the approval of the Secretary of State since 1999. There is no requirement for local authorities to inform the Department when a speed limit is changed.

Speed Limits: Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternatives to enforcement cameras are available to reduce the speed of motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Speeding is a major factor in road safety, contributing to 727 deaths in 2007.
	Traffic calming measures are available to local highway authorities to reduce vehicle speeds on their roads. It is for the local authority to decide which measure would be the most effective in achieving safe and appropriate vehicle speeds in their area based on their knowledge of the local road network.
	The Department for Transport provides guidance to local highways authorities on a wide range of traffic calming measures designed to reduce vehicle speeds in a variety of circumstances. The Department's latest technical guidance on traffic calming Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/07 Traffic Calming was published in March 2007. This provides local authorities with advice on the design and use of traffic calming measures and brings together in one comprehensive document a summary of relevant research.

Speed Limits: Cameras

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of speed cameras in improving road safety in Southend.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 3 February 2009
	The Department for Transport has not assessed the effectiveness of speed cameras in improving road safety in Southend. However, cameras operated by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership under the National Safety Camera Programme which ended on 31 March 2007 have proved to be very effective. Fatal casualties reduced by an average of 43 per cent. at fixed camera sites and killed or seriously injured casualties reduced by an average of 51 per cent. At mobile camera sites fatal casualties reduced by 42 per cent. and killed or seriously injured casualties reduced by an average of 22 per cent.

Train Operating Companies

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what representations have been made to him by the Association of Train Operating Companies in support of changes to franchise service level commitments that would allow a reduction in services;
	(2)  what subjects were discussed at his meeting with representatives of the Association of Train Operating Companies on 20 January 2009.

Paul Clark: The Secretary of State has regular meetings with representatives of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and the train operating companies themselves. The 20 January meeting, as is usually the case, covered a range of issues that affect the railway. ATOC have made no representations to reduce services by way of alterations to existing franchise service level commitments.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the  (a) recent humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and  (b) adequacy of the (i) UK's and (ii) international community's long-term aid efforts; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The humanitarian situation remains grave with up to 1.3 million displaced in eastern Democratic of the Congo (DRC) and many conflict affected communities in need of emergency assistance. According to the UN, almost 130,000 people in Province Orientale have been recently displaced by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacks and almost 300 killed in January as Joint DRC/Ugandan/South Sudan military operations are underway. There are also Joint Rwandan and DRC military operations in North Kivu to tackle the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR). Humanitarian access and protection of civilians remain key areas of concern. John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary General and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator will be visiting DRC between 6-10 February to assess the humanitarian response and protection concerns in North Kivu and Province Oriental.
	The UK Government are a major donor to DRC and will provide £230 million between 2009-10 and 2010-11. We have developed a development programme which responds to the needs and constraints of the country, balancing meeting short-term needs (e.g. humanitarian assistance) with helping to lay the foundation for long-term development. We have worked closely with the international community to develop a joint donor framework and donor co-ordination is slowly improving. Given the high levels of poverty DRC remains under-funded overall. However, there are currently significant operational constraints to absorbing further aid.

Inland Waterways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which UN-sponsored conventions on watercourses the UK  (a) is and  (b) is not a signatory; and what plans he has to sign such conventions to which the UK is not presently a signatory.

Michael Foster: There are two principal UN sponsored conventions that deal with freshwater: the UN Conventions of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997); and the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1992).
	The UK has not signed, ratified or acceded to the UN Convention on the Non- Navigational Uses of International Watercourses Convention and has no current plans to do so. To date, 16 countries have signed this convention (out of 35 required for it to enter into force) and there are 15 parties to the convention. DFID is currently working with WWF-UK to review the international architecture that supports water resources management, including the potential role for the convention.
	The UK is a signatory to the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, 1992, but has not ratified it. Ratification would be led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
	Other key conventions that make specific reference to water include the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa (UNCCD). The UK signed the UNCCD in 1994 and ratified in 1996.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 434W, on apprentices, what progress has been made in increasing the number of apprentices in his Department and its agencies; and how many apprentices his Department and its agencies employ.

Angela Eagle: Since the previous question raised by the hon. Member, HM Treasury and its agencies have had no apprenticeships or advanced apprenticeships in place. Efforts are made to raise awareness of the programmes available and HM Treasury and its agencies will continue to seek to attract potential candidates to apprenticeship schemes including with our outsourced suppliers.
	Methods used to promote the advantages of the apprenticeships and trying to recruit to the Government Pathway scheme include circulating literature and holding promotional events with external suppliers. The lack of take-up can be attributed to the highly skilled workforce that is already in place. A recent sample of HM Treasury and Office of Government Commerce colleagues found 98.6 per cent. of respondents were qualified to level 2 or above. This suggests the pool of potential applicants for apprenticeships is relatively small.

Banks: Finance

George Mudie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Statement of 13 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 539-472, on financial markets, which institutions have taken up  (a) the Government scheme for new lending between banks and  (b) the £37 billion made available for bank recapitalisation; and what assessment he has made of the effect of these arrangements on levels of inter-bank lending.

Ian Pearson: RBS Group plc, Lloyds TSB plc and HBOS Group plc have announced the terms on which they are participating in the Government's recapitalisation scheme. Details are set out in the Placing and Open Offer Agreements that are available in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
	These banks are also eligible to use the Government's Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), under which up to £250 billion of bank lending will be guaranteed. Participating banks have accessed some £100 billion of funding under the CGS so far. A list of participating institutions is published by the Debt Management Office at
	http://www.dmo.gov.uk/index.aspx?page=CGS/CGSEligible.
	Figures for individual banks are confidential. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer noted on 19 January, these guarantees have been successful in helping to bring down the inter-bank lending rate.

Delivery Unit

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recommendations were made to the Prime Minister by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit between 1 July and 31 December 2008.

Yvette Cooper: In line with normal practices regarding PMDU advice to Ministers, the unit's recommendations to the Chancellor are never put in the public domain.

Departmental Contracts

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 47-48WS, on departmental expenditure limit (2008-09), what consultancy work required a transfer of £250,000 to the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit; and what consultancy firm or firms carried out this work.

Yvette Cooper: When PMDU transferred from the Cabinet Office to HMT in 2007, the remit of the unit changed significantly to include development of PSA policy and oversight of the delivery of the 30 key government PSAs. The unit's budget and staff levels were increased to reflect these two additional responsibilities. The Cabinet Office agreed to make a £250,000 contribution to cover part of the additional staff costs. When the money was transferred to HMT it was recorded as being for consultancy when it should have been recorded as an increase in the staff budget.

Departmental Correspondence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters awaiting a reply from his Department have been waiting for more than his Department's target response period.

Angela Eagle: The Cabinet Office annually publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members correspondence, which is available in the Library of the House.

Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the UK authorities activated their swap arrangements with  (a) the US Federal Reserve and  (b) the European Central Bank on Friday 10 October 2008.

Ian Pearson: On 10 October 2008 the Bank of England entered into an $8.484 billion overnight swap and a $29.998 billion one week swap with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Details can be found in the Bank of England market notice 'Result of US Dollar Repo Operations' of 10 October 2008.
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/money/documentation/usdreporesult081010.pdf

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 11 November 2008 on pay for PCS members.

Yvette Cooper: I replied to the hon. Member on 19 December. A further copy has been sent to his office.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 14 October 2008 on small business costs, PO Ref: 1/61608/2008.

Ian Pearson: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been a delay in sending some responses. The Financial Services Secretary hopes to be in a position to reply to the hon. Member shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 6 November 2008 on charities, PO Ref: 1/62894/2008.

Ian Pearson: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been a delay in sending some responses. The Financial Services Secretary hopes to be in a position to reply to the hon. Member shortly.

Mortgages: Arrears

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of mortgage accounts were in arrears on  (a) 1 April 2008,  (b) 1 June 2008 and  (c) 1 December 2008.

Ian Pearson: The Government do not hold these figures. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) publishes quarterly data on residential mortgage lending, covering the period from the first quarter of 2007, available at:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Doing/Regulated/Returns/IRR/statistics/index.shtml.

Pensions: Private Sector

John Mason: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on private pensions of the recent stock market downturn.

Ian Pearson: The effect on private pensions of the recent stock market downturn varies with the share of assets individual schemes assign to equities. In general UK pension funds have substantially reduced their exposure to equities in recent years.
	The Government have taken a number of steps to support good quality pension provision and is committed to helping scheme sponsors through this difficult time within the framework provided by the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund.
	We will continue to work with groups representing pension schemes, employers and scheme members to consider what further steps can be taken to support schemes.

Public Works Loan Board

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was owed to the Public Works Loans Board at the end of each of the last five financial years by  (a) the Scottish Government and  (b) parish councils in England.

Angela Eagle: The Public Works Loan Board lends only to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, therefore the Scottish Government has no outstanding debt with the PWLB.
	The balance outstanding to the Public Works Loan Board in respect of parish and town councils in England at the end of each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   Balance of principal (£) 
			 2003-04 66,237,455.29 
			 2004-05 69,267,400.71 
			 2005-06 75,419,106.37 
			 2006-07 77,340,091.21 
			 2007-08 81,016,768.50

Public Works Loan Board

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was lent by the Public Works Loans Board to  (a) the Scottish Government and  (b) parish councils in England in each of the last five financial years.

Angela Eagle: The Public Works Loan Board lends only to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales therefore the Scottish Government has no outstanding debt with the PWLB.
	The total amounts lent to the parish and town councils in England in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 2003-04 11,709,583 
			 2004-05 8,210,406 
			 2005-06 11,737,008 
			 2006-07 7,964,701 
			 2007-08 9,415,688

Public Works Loan Board

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid to the Public Works Loans Board by  (a) the Scottish Government and  (b) parish councils in England in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: Where PWLB debt is repaid by Scottish local authorities prematurely using proceeds from the sale of housing stock and where there is overhanging debt, the Scottish Government often contributes to the total sum repayable to the PWLB. Payments received from the Scottish Government by PWLB in this respect in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Principal  Interest  Premium  Total 
			 2003-04 90,573,659.94 0 18,275,438.61 108,849,098.55 
			 2004-05 0 0 0 0 
			 2005-06 0 0 0 0 
			 2006-07 80,148,935.93 0 27,468,125.43 107,617,061.36 
			 2007-08 71,226,117.65 0 18,354,399.65 89,580,517.30 
		
	
	Public Works Loan Board receipts from parish town councils in England in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Principal  Accrued interest  Premium  Total 
			 2003-04 5,490,065.15 4,062,911.27 272,639.73 9,825,616.15 
			 2004-05 5,176,104.34 4,208,528.19 29,464.56 9,414,097.09 
			 2005-06 5,592,703.84 4,317,054.09 173,036.58 10,082,794.51 
			 2006-07 5,855,311.45 4,285,239.25 47,130.43 10,187,681.13 
			 2007-08 5,831,642.47 4,583,982.74 37,996.42 10,453,621.63

Valuation Office: Overseas Visits

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what overseas conferences have been attended by representatives of the Valuation Office Agency at public expense in the last 12 months;
	(2)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst, of 17 March 2008,  Official Report, column 899W, on the Valuation Office: visits abroad, which overseas destinations have been visited by Valuation Office Agency staff since March 2008; how many visits were made to each destination; and what the purpose of each visit was.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) receives a number of requests to provide advice overseas. Where VOA participation is expected to be beneficial at an overseas conference or seminar some or all of the costs incurred are normally borne by the conference organisers.
	Since March 2008 staff from the Valuation Office Agency have made the following visits:
	 Fully paid for by the event organisers;
	One person visited Moscow as a Keynote speaker at Russian Society of Appraisers Conference; and
	One person visited Kansas City to attend a meeting of the International Association of Assessing Officers to review mass appraisal courses and textbooks.
	 Costs paid by the VOA:
	Five visits, consisting of one person each time, were made to Dublin to discuss valuation practice and procedures across England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland;
	One person visited Toronto to attend the Mass Appraisal Valuation Symposium, partly paid for by the organisers;
	One person visited Warsaw as a Keynote speaker at the European Valuers Conference;
	One person visited Beijing to attend an International Property Tax Institute Conference, partly paid for by the organisers;
	One person visited Adelaide as a Keynote speaker at the Australian Valuer General, Registrar General and Surveyor General's Conference, partly paid for by the organisers; and
	One person visited Cannes to attend Gartner's Symposium / IT(xpo) 2008.

Charities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1312W, on charities, whether the Government Equalities Office plans to provide further funding to each of the charities referred to.

Maria Eagle: Decisions on any future funding to these or other charities will be announced in the usual way.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 688-89W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Maria Eagle: With reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 688-89W, on departmental temporary staff, the total number of staff recruited through each company and the average length of contract, in weeks, is as follows:
	
		
			  Company  Number of staff recruited  Average contract length (Weeks) 
			 Adecco 3 37 
			 Brook Street UK Ltd. 13 26 
			 Michael Page Associates 1 5 
			 Morgan Hunt 4 17 
			 Reed Employment Ltd. 13 14

Political Parties: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 303W, on departmental procurement, what the purpose was of each of the three payments to political parties by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

Maria Eagle: The Commission has informed me that the three payments made by them, as referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 303W, are related to charges for attending the 2007 annual party conferences. The Commission attended the conferences to build its profile with parliamentarians and key stakeholders and promote factual information about its work, to co-inside with the launch of the new Commission in October 2007.

Departmental Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the official engagements of each Minister in his Department were between 1 December and 31 December 2008.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 January 2009
	 The information that the hon. Member has requested is listed in the following table. This also includes regional engagements as my Regional Ministers do discuss departmental business at these events.
	
		
			  Minister  Date  Official engagement 
			 James Purnell 1 December 2008 Child Poverty Action Group 
			 James Purnell 9 December 2008 Tower Project, London 
			 James Purnell 11 December 2008 Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, York 
			 James Purnell 17 December 2008 Inclusion 'Workless in 2009' 
			
			 Tony McNulty 1 December 2008 Hammersmith Jobcentre Plus 
			 Tony McNulty 1 December 2008 London Prevent Network 
			 Tony McNulty 1 December 2008 Mayor of London 
			 Tony McNulty 1 December 2008 Ealing Council 
			 Tony McNulty 1 December 2008 North West London 
			 Tony McNulty 2 December 2008 Media Breakfast 
			 Tony McNulty 2 December 2008 Ethnic Minority Advisory Group Reception 
			 Tony McNulty 3 December 2008 London Council 
			 Tony McNulty 3 December 2008 A4E 
			 Tony McNulty 4 December 2008 Employers Round table 
			 Tony McNulty 4 December 2008 Speech OSCT event 
			 Tony McNulty 4 December 2008 Visit London meeting 
			 Tony McNulty 8 December 2008 Harrow College 
			 Tony McNulty 8 December 2008 Shepherds Bush Jobcentre Plus Office 
			 Tony McNulty 8 December 2008 Met Police meeting 
			 Tony McNulty 8 December 2008 London and European Resilience Event 
			 Tony McNulty 9 December 2008 London Child Poverty Delivery Group 
			 Tony McNulty 10 December 2008 National Prevent Conference 
			 Tony McNulty 11 December 2008 London community Safety Partnership 
			 Tony McNulty 15 December 2008 London Colleges 
			 Tony McNulty 15 December 2008 Tower Hamlets 
			 Tony McNulty 15 December 2008 Ocean Job Shop 
			 Tony McNulty 15 December 2008 Brick Lane Youth Development Association 
			 Tony McNulty 16 December 2008 UK Commission for Employment and Skills 
			 Tony McNulty 17 December 2008 Drug Strategy Commission reception 
			 Tony McNulty 18 December 2008 Met Police 
			 Tony McNulty 18 December 2008 Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre 
			
			 Rosie Winterton 1 December 2008 Immingham Pensioners Wellbeing Group 
			 Rosie Winterton 3 December 2008 Opportunity age Strategic Group 
			 Rosie Winterton 4 December 2008 DWP Pensions Staff Conference 
			 Rosie Winterton 4 December 2008 Help the aged 
			   Age Concern 
			 Rosie Winterton 5 December 2008 Local Government Yorkshire and Humber event 
			 Rosie Winterton 8 December 2008 EEF 
			 Rosie Winterton 9 December 2008 B and CE benefit Schemes 
			 Rosie Winterton 10 December 2008 Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) 
			 Rosie Winterton 10 December 2008 Charity Champion Awards 
			 Rosie Winterton 11 December 2008 Age Concern Newcastle 
			   ASDA Northumbria 
			   Employee event Newcastle 
			 Rosie Winterton 12 December 2008 Association of Colleges Yorkshire and Humber 
			 Rosie Winterton 15 December 2008 Pension Credit Centre Burnley 
			 Rosie Winterton 16 December 2008 NAPF 
			 Rosie Winterton 16 December 2008 Help the Aged 
			   Age Concern 
			   CPA 
			   Anchor Trust 
			 Rosie Winterton 17 December 2008 BGOP—Better Government for Older People 
			   OPAG—Older People's Action Group 
			
			 Kitty Ussher 4 December 2008 Conference of the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd. 
			 Kitty Ussher 8 December 2008 Valuation Office Agency 
			 Kitty Ussher 9 December 2008 Balham Benefit Delivery Centre 
			 Kitty Ussher 9 December 2008 National Housing Federation 
			 Kitty Ussher 10 December 2008 White Paper launch 
			 Kitty Ussher 11 December 2008 National Housing Federations Unlocking Potential conference 
			 Kitty Ussher 11 December 2008 Chartered Institute of Housing 
			 Kitty Ussher 15 December 2008 Stewart Maxwell MSP 
			 Kitty Ussher 15 December 2008 Lyn Brown MP 
			 Kitty Ussher 16 December 2008 Beverley Hughes MP 
			 Kitty Ussher 16 December 2008 Jennifer Willott MP 
			 Kitty Ussher 18 December 2008 Zimbabwe Inter-Ministerial Meeting 
			 Kitty Ussher 18 December 2008 Life Chances Ministerial Meeting 
			
			 Jonathan Shaw 1 December 2008 Office for Disability Issues Annual event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 1 December 2008 Neuro-diversity Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 1 December 2008 Welfare Reform Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 1 December 2008 RADAR People of the Year Awards 
			 Jonathan Shaw 2 December 2008 Shelter Housing Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 2 December 2008 Justice and Crime Sub-Committee 
			 Jonathan Shaw 2 December 2008 Kimberly Clark/SEEDA meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 2 December 2008 SEEDA Infrastructure Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 3 December 2008 City and East London JCP LOCOG Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 3 December 2008 Canterbury Innovation Centre 
			 Jonathan Shaw 3 December 2008 MCCH 
			 Jonathan Shaw 4 December 2008 Include Me Too Conference 
			 Jonathan Shaw 4 December 2008 Equality 2025 
			 Jonathan Shaw 4 December 2008 National Autistic Society Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 8 December 2008 Placeshaper Housing Association Reception 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 RNIB Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 Remploy Meeting with Shop Stewards 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 Parkinson's Disease Society Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 Tell Us Once Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 Employers' Forum on Disability Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 IDEAS Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 9 December 2008 Remploy and other Supported Businesses Procurement Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 10 December 2008 Independent Living Funds Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 10 December 2008 Welfare Reform Stakeholder Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 10 December 2008 Care and Support Ministerial Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 11 December 2008 Equality Bill Consultation Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 12 December 2008 British Olympians and Paralympians Medallists Event 
			 Jonathan Shaw 15 December 2008 Meeting with Devolved Administration Ministers 
			 Jonathan Shaw 16 December 2008 SEEDC 
			 Jonathan Shaw 16 December 2008 Remploy Meeting 
			 Jonathan Shaw 16 December 2008 IDEAS Workshop 
			 Jonathan Shaw 16 December 2008 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) 
			 Jonathan Shaw 17 December 2008 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) 
			
			 Lord McKenzie 1 December 2008 SR Partnership 
			 Lord McKenzie 1 December 2008 Steel Construction Institute 
			 Lord McKenzie 2 December 2008 Inside Government Conference 
			 Lord McKenzie 2 December 2008 Evershed's 
			 Lord McKenzie 3 December 2008 Launch of HSE New Strategy consultation 
			 Lord McKenzie 4 December 2008 Pension Consultants 
			 Lord McKenzie 5 December 2008 Birmingham New Hospital Joint Venture 
			 Lord McKenzie 9 December 2008 Annual Multi Pensions 2008 
			 Lord McKenzie 9 December 2008 Trade Union Congress 
			 Lord McKenzie 10 December 2008 Personal Account Delivery Authority 
			 Lord McKenzie 10 December 2008 Confederation of British Industry 
			 Lord McKenzie 10 December 2008 National Association of Pension Funds 
			 Lord McKenzie 10 December 2008 Association of Consulting Actuaries 
			 Lord McKenzie 12 December 2008 Gateway Education centre and Shrewsbury Hospital 
			 Lord McKenzie 16 December 2008 National Association of Pension Funds 
			 Lord McKenzie 17 December 2008 Australian Health and Safety Minister

Post Office Card Account

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 765-6W, on the Post Office card account, on what basis it was decided that the financial details of the contract will remain commercially confidential.

Rosie Winterton: The financial details of the contract are subject to the normal principles of commercial confidentiality. It would not therefore be appropriate to make this public as this information relates to the commercial interest of the Department and Post Office Ltd.

Winter Fuel Payments

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions those living within the postcodes BB1, BB4, BB5 and BB6 areas have qualified for cold weather payments since 1 October 2008.

Kitty Ussher: A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer if the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode.
	Eligible customers living in the postcodes BB1, BB4, BB5 and BB6 have qualified for cold weather payments twice since 1 October 2008 (based on the temperature criterion having been met up to 28 January 2009).

Winter Fuel Payments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions people living in postcode areas BB18, BB8 and BB9 have qualified for cold weather payments since 1 October 2008.

Kitty Ussher: A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer if the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode.
	Eligible customers living in the postcodes BB18, BB8 and BB9 have qualified for cold weather payments twice since 1 October 2008 (based on the temperature criterion having been met up to 28 January 2009).

Adult Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Reading West of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 594W, on vocational training: finance, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of learners aged 25 years and over in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 5 February 2009
	The target audience for the Skills for Life strategy is adults in England with literacy and/or numeracy skills below Level 2 and this includes learners aged 25 years and over. The increase in the number of Skills for Life (literacy, language and numeracy) learners aged 25 years and over (and in all other age groups) in 2004-05 and 2005-06 was part of our Skills for Life strategy to improve the basic skills of 2.25 million adults between 2001 and 2010.
	The strategy is based around boosting demand, ensuring capacity, raising standards and increasing learner achievement. The boosting demand element included work with employers to raise awareness of the issue and the successful 'Get On' campaign to encourage individuals to improve their skills. DIUS is refreshing its Skills for Life strategy and will soon be publishing a delivery document.

Apprentices

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of apprenticeships there were in the public sector at 1 January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: In Quarter 3 2008, there were just under 10,000 people of working age(1) studying towards an apprenticeship in the public sector. This represents around 7 per cent. of those working age people in England studying towards an apprenticeship.
	These data are taken from the most recent quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) which covers the period July to September (2008). Data up to 31 December 2008 will be available from 11 February.
	(1) Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59

Apprentices: Cleveland

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many new  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) training places will be made available for the people in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the next 12 months.

Si�n Simon: Information on projected apprenticeship volumes is available at national level only.
	Table 1 shows FE and Skills participation for Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland local authorities in 2007/08, the latest year fully audited information. This information is also available on the Data Service website, and was released alongside the post-16 education statistical first release, which was published on 18 December 2008:
	www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics
	This information by parliamentary constituency is not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: FE and skills participation, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland local authorities, 2007/08 (provisional) 
			   Age  
			  Local authority  16-18  19+  All learners 
			 Middlesbrough 4,400 10,600 15,000 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 4,800 12,000 16,900 
			  Notes: 1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. These figures include FE, University for Industry, WBL (including apprenticeships, Entry to Employment), Train to Gain and Adult Safeguarded Learning. 3. Final 2007/08 data will be published in March 2009. 4. This table uses learner volumes as a measure for comparative purposes. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of learners that participated at any point during the year. 5. Learners that are included in different data collections e.g. a learner undertaking an apprenticeship and a Train to Gain qualification, will be counted twice in this table. 6. Age is calculated based upon age as at 31 August of the academic year. 7. Local authority is based on where the learner's home postcode.

Departmental Air Travel

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 527W, and pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2008,  Official Report, column 1055W, on departmental air travel, if he will place in the Library the figures for the distance of air travel carbon offset in 2007-08 for his Department, broken down by  (a) domestic,  (b) short-haul and  (c) long-haul flights.

Si�n Simon: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created as a result of the machinery of government changes in June 2007. The Department's predecessors DfES (now DCSFDepartment for Children Schools and Families) and DTI (now BERRDepartment for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) provide travel bookings for DIUS. The number of air miles used to calculate the departmental payment for the 2007-08 for DIUS provided by BERR was:
	
		
			   Miles 
			  (a) Domestic 27,560 
			  (b) Short haul 140,286 
			  (c) Long haul 285,096 
		
	
	The number of air miles used to calculate the departmental payment for 2007-08 for DIUS provided by DCSF was included in the DCSF return because figures could not be separated for this period. To separate this data would involve disproportionate cost.

Learning and Skills Council

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the Learning and Skills Council's December 2008 board meeting.

Si�n Simon: The publication of the minutes of the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) National Council meetings are an operational issue. Decisions about their publication are therefore a matter for the LSC. The LSC publishes a summary of its council minutes on their website. A summary of all meetings, including the December meeting can be found at
	www.lsc.gov.uk.

Learning and Skills Council: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the capital budget of the Learning and Skills Council is for  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Si�n Simon: In Our Statement of PrioritiesBetter skills, Better jobs, Better Lives, published in November 2007, it was stated that we will invest 2.3 billion between 2008-09 and 2010-11 to ensure that colleges have world-class buildings.
	The original annual capital grant allocations to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) were set out as follows:
	
		
			   Amount ( million) 
			 2008-09 694 
			 2009-10 820 
			 2010-11 850 
		
	
	These figures include the total LSC capital budget which includes funding for both 16 to 19-year-olds and adults.
	However, as announced in the last pre-Budget report, investment of 110 million for 2009-10 has been brought forward into 2008-09, and a further 110 million for 2010-11 has been brought forward into 2009-10. This is in support of this Government's actions to help beat the current global economic downturn.
	The revised annual capital grant allocations to the LSC are subsequently as follows:
	
		
			   Amount ( million) 
			 2008-09 804 
			 2009-10 820 
			 2010-11 740

Driving Offences: Insurance

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2009,  Official Report, column 704W, on driving offences: insurance, how many cars were seized for insurance offences and not returned in 2008; how many were sold; and how much was raised from their sale.

Alan Campbell: This information is not collected centrally. Available information provided to the Motor Insurance Database indicates that in 2008 there were 185,000 vehicles seized by the police for being driven without appropriate insurance. The Motor Insurers' Information Centre, which is responsible for the database, indicated that in the preceding year about 40 per cent. of seized vehicles were subsequently destroyed or sold, rather than returned. The proceeds of disposal are paid to the vehicle owner, less any sums due in respect of removal and storage charges.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when she plans to reply to the letter of 8 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mrs A. Rehman;
	(2)  when she plans to reply to the letter of 8 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs A. Rehman.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 19 January 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 7 November 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr Faqir Hussain.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 19 January 2009.

Police: Demonstrations

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each of the demonstrations about Gaza and Israel held since 1 January 2009, how many police were injured; what damage to police vehicles took place; and what the cost of policing was; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Information provided by the Metropolitan Police Service is that to date police officers have reported 55 assaults by protestors and nine police vehicles have been damaged. The Metropolitan Police Service estimates that the total cost of the policing operation, between 29 December 2008 and 24 January 2009, is 2.7 million.

Departmental Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2009,  Official Report, column 561W, on departmental buildings, what  (a) works and  (b) refurbishments were carried out in each Minister's office in each of the last 12 months; and what the cost was of each.

Patrick McFadden: The previous answer referred to by the hon. Member included spend incurred in August 2007 following refurbishments resulting from Machinery of Government changes. The following information therefore dates back to August 2007.
	The following costs relate to the Department's accommodation refurbishments for both Ministers and their outer offices:
	August 2007: 36,643.
	May 2008: 352;
	June 2008: 265,991 (included major demolition, construction and redecoration work to standardise and 'future proof offices should ministerial numbers increase in future;
	July 2008: 11,016;
	September 2008: 19,958.
	January 2009: 57,040.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Answer of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, column 782W, on regional development agencies: South East Region, when the evaluation of the effects of the South East England Development Agency's spending was completed; and if he will place a copy of the evaluation report in the Library.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an independent evaluation of the economic impact of RDAs. The evaluation of the impact of South East England Development Agency's spending is incorporated in the report. The evaluation report has just been completed and I will place a copy in the Libraries of the House shortly.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 41W, on departmental expenditure limits (2008-09), for what reason there was a re-allocation of 2.5 million from the London Development Agency to the regional development agencies.

Patrick McFadden: As part of the management of the single pot funding model, the regional development agencies (RDAs) and the London Development Agency (LDA) have the authority to agree loans between themselves, as a way of maximising the use of their overall budget allocation. This is often utilised to overcome issues around the timing of expenditure. Whilst there is no need to process such transactions between the RDAs generally (because they are all non voted), funds to the LDA are voted (because it is governed by the Greater London Authority) and any changes are, therefore, necessarily reflected in supplementary estimates.

Regional Development Agencies: Public Appointments

Eric Pickles: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 43-4WS, on Regional Development Agency (Board appointments), what political activity has been declared by each of the listed Board members.

Patrick McFadden: The declared political activity of each of the 23 appointed board members named in the written statement of 25 November are:
	 Advantage West Midlands
	Cllr Mike Whitbywas leader of the Conservative group on the Birmingham city council and since 2004 has been leader of Birmingham city council.
	 East of England Development Agency
	Nitin Dahadnone.
	Shona Johnstoneduring the past five years has been a Conservative county councillor and was leader of Cambridgeshire county council in 2007.
	Cllr Madeline RussellConservative councillor for Biggleswade and since 2005 became leader of Bedfordshire county council.
	 East Midlands Development Agency
	Elizabeth Donnellymember of the Co-operative party.
	Jim HarkerConservative member of Northamptonshire county council and has been its leader since 2005.
	 Northwest Regional Development Agency
	Anne Selbynone.
	John Stagemannone.
	Brenda Smithnone.
	Lord Peter Smithmember of the Labour party and has been leader of Wigan council since 1991.
	 South East of England Development Agency
	Zenna Atkinsonnone.
	Jeremy BirchLabour councillor and has been a member of the party for 30 years.
	Les Dawsonnone.
	Keith MitchellConservative councillor and leader of Oxfordshire county council since November 2001.
	 South West England Development Agency
	Ian Ducatmember of the Labour party.
	Peter Maddennone.
	Judith Reynoldsnone.
	Henry Studholmenone.
	Steve Smithnone.
	 Yorkshire Forward
	Bill Adamsmember of the Labour party.
	Ajaz Ahmednone.
	Julie Kennynone.
	John Vincentnone.

Aerials: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer of 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 890W, on aerials: planning permission, when she expects to publish the conclusions of the review of planning procedures for new base stations; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We are still undertaking our review of the planning procedures relating to applications for new base stations.
	We are currently considering whether the two reviews published on 24 Novemberthe 'Killian and Pretty Review: Planning applicationsa faster and more responsive system: Final Report' and the 'Final report into Non householder minor development consent review' by White Young Green Planninghave any implications for the work on telecommunications.
	Should we decide that the telecommunication regulations need changing we will consult publicly on any options.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 376-9W, on departmental contracts, what the timetable is for the completion of the Contact Point for the North West Territorial Co-operation Programme; to whom the contract was awarded and at what cost; and what the full project specification is.

Sadiq Khan: This contract was for the provision of UK Contact Points for the North West Europe Territorial Cooperation Programme. The timetable for completion of the programme is 31 March 2011 and the contract was awarded to two individuals at an overall cost of 318,000. A copy of the specification has been lodged in the Library of the House.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 376-9W, on departmental contracts, what the timetable is for the completion of the Enabling Most Efficient Information Sharing Across Government Project; to whom the contract was awarded and at what cost; and what the full project specification of the research is.

Sadiq Khan: The timetable for the completion of the Enabling more efficient information sharing across Government project is 28 February 2009. The contract was awarded to Xantura Limited and the maximum approved cost of the contract is 89,800.00. A copy of the full specification of the project has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Departmental Mass Media

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Surrey South West of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1491W, on departmental mass media, for what reasons her Department is monitoring the media for the keywords of 'civil unrest'.

Sadiq Khan: 'Civil unrest' is included as a keyword search term for CLG's contracted media monitoring provider in order to ensure relevant coverage relating to community cohesion and resilience issues, for which the Department is responsible, is captured.

Departmental Mass Media

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Surrey South West of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1491W, on departmental mass media, on what date Durrants was instructed by her Department to monitor the keywords 'Haringey Social Services'.

Sadiq Khan: The Department asked for this search term to be added to Durrants' list of key words on 17 November 2008.

Departmental Plants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by her Department on  (a) pot plants since 1 March 2008 and  (b) flowers in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: A low level of internal planting within the CLG HQ buildings is maintained under our integrated facilities management contract. The cost of this is included within the fixed contract price for cleaning, grounds maintenance and pest control and is not separately identifiable.
	Since 1 March 2008 additional new plants have been provided at a cost of 725.25.
	It is not departmental practice to provide cut flowers for office use and so expenditure on this is nil.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1326W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense Ministers in her Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Sadiq Khan: Other Ministers in Communities and Local Government have taken the following personal training courses at public expense since 1 January 2008: advice on continuing professional development; and advice on speeches.

Eco-Towns: Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much it cost to set up the website http://ecotownsyoursay.direct.gov.uk; and what the monthly maintenance costs of the website are.

Margaret Beckett: The set up and development costs for the website
	http://ecotownsyoursay.direct.gov.uk
	totalled 76,786 and to date 6,000 has been incurred in maintenance costs. The website has the specific aim of encouraging participation in the eco-towns consultation.

Fire Services: Contracts

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 810W, on Fire Service: contracts, what legal advice her Department sought prior to any advice given to contracting parties in respect of non-inclusion of break clauses in the contracts for regional fire control centres; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Department took advice from its own lawyers and from commercial property advisers and solicitors throughout the development of the building leases for regional control centre buildings. The fire and rescue authorities have taken and continue to take their own legal advice.

Housing Challenge

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the written ministerial statement of 16 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on the Housing Challenge document, if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent to regional assembly chairs on the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit's advice.

Margaret Beckett: The letters sent in July 2008 by the Minister for Housing and Planning to the chairs of the regional assemblies concerning the NHPAU's advice have been deposited in the Library.
	These letters were published on the 16 July 2008 and are available online:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/guidanceregionalstrategy

Housing: Sales

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the evidential basis was for the statement made by the Minister of State (Housing) that there had been an upturn in the property market in her interview with  The Sunday Times on 18 January 2009; who the Minister of State consulted before making this statement; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Government recognise that the housing market faces significant challenges.
	In my interview with  The Sunday Times I did not state that there has been an upturn in the property market. I was asked about the state of the housing market. In my reply, I mentioned that a number of recent surveys and professional groups have reported that buyer inquiries are rising, including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). However, mortgage availability remains a key barrier.
	To help people who are struggling to get onto the housing ladder we introduced the HomeBuy Direct scheme which is designed to help up to 18,000 first time buyers through shared equity. Measures announced by the Chancellor on 19 January are intended to support lending.

Local Government: Publicity

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether she plans to make an assessment of the appropriateness of the legislative requirements on local authorities to place statutory notices in local newspapers;
	(2)  which recommendations of the Killian-Pretty review of planning she plans to implement.

Iain Wright: At the launch of the final report on 24 November 2008, my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Housing (Margaret Beckett) identified two recommendations on extending further permitted development rights for businesses and public services and reducing information requirements that we would be taking forward immediately. Among the other recommendations of the review was one that local authorities should be given greater autonomy and flexibility to determine the best approaches to use in order to notify the public about planning applications. We will set out the Government's response to the remaining recommendations in the Killian Pretty Report shortly. Any proposals for substantive policy changes would be subject to consultation.

Luton Borough Council: Finance

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what grants, other than local government finance settlements, her Department and its predecessors have made in respect of the Luton Borough Council area in each year since 1997.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government gave on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1304-05W.
	Furthermore, the following table gives an update on the final outturn figures for 2007-08 and planned expenditure for this financial year for grants made by this Department other than local government finance settlements.
	
		
			   million 
			   2007-08  final outturn  2008-09 plan 
			 Supporting People Programme 4.646 4.520 
			 ERDF 5.840 3.504 
			 Planning Delivery Grant(1) 0.440 0.116 
			 Homelessness programme 0.120 0.120 
			 Disabled Facilities Grant 0.487 0.510 
			 Growth Areas Programme(2) 9.279 19.566 
			 LA Supported Capital Expenditure for Housing 1.756 1.756 
			 Regional Housing Pots 0.342 1.000 
			 Community Infrastructure Fund  4.784 
			 Local Area Agreements(2,3) 4.529  
			 Area Based Grant(2)  10.259 
			 Total 27.439 46.135 
			 (1) In 2008, the Planning Delivery Grant programme was replaced by Housing and Planning Delivery-Grant. (2) Figures are allocated funding. (3) Direct funding from Communities and local Government for local Area Agreement grants, which was a pooling of many different types of grants previously funded separately, ceased, in 2008 and was absorbed by the commencement of the Area Based Grant in April 2008.

McKinsey

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2008,  Official Report, column 779W, on McKinsey, if she will place in the Library a copy of each document provided to participants in the Communities High Level Seminar.

Sadiq Khan: The documents have been placed in the House Library.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 111W, on non-domestic rates: empty property, if she will place in the Library a copy of the written representation from the urban regeneration companies.

John Healey: I have placed in the library a copy of the letter received from the urban regeneration companies.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on non-domestic rates: ports, how the figure of approximately 200 million for the aggregate rateable value was calculated.

John Healey: The figure of 200 million was an initial estimate, for England, of the aggregate of the port operators' and port occupiers' properties in the large ports of their rating assessments, based on information available at the time.
	Since 6 October 2008, work has been undertaken to deal with inquiries and appeals in respect of those properties within ports, following consultation with ratepayers.

Regional Ministers: Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the official engagements were for the Minister for  (a) London,  (b) Yorkshire and the Humber,  (c) the South East,  (d) the North West;  (e) the East of England, (f) the East Midlands,  (g) the South West,  (h) the North East and  (i) the West Midlands in their roles as regional ministers from 1 to 31 January 2009; and what the length of time spent on each engagement was.

Sadiq Khan: I am depositing a table of this information in the Library.
	Accurate information on the length of time spent on each engagement could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Regional Ministers: Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the official engagements were for  (a) the Minister for the North West,  (b) the Minister for the East of England,  (c) the Minister for the East Midlands,  (d) the Minister for the South West,  (e) the Minister for the North East and (f) the Minister for the West Midlands in their roles as regional ministers from (i) 1 to 31 October, (ii) 1 to 30 November and (iii) 1 to 31 December 2008; and what the length of time spent on each engagement was.

Sadiq Khan: I am depositing a table of this information in the Library. Accurate information on the length of time spent on each engagement can be provided at only disproportionate cost.

Bristol

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) transport,  (b) staff and  (c) administrative costs were of the visit made by the Minister of State for Schools to Bristol West constituency on 12 May 2008.

Jim Knight: I did not visit Bristol West on 12 May 2008.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 2-3WS, on ContactPoint, on what date he next intends to provide an update on progress on ContactPoint.

Beverley Hughes: As mentioned in the written ministerial statement of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 2-3WS we will provide an update in spring 2009.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the Answer of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 186W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in his Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Ministers in the Department for Children, Schools and Families have taken the following personal training courses at public expense since 1 January 2008:
	Induction Workshop, Action Learning Set, Media Training, Select Committee Training.

Pupils: English Language

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 165W, on pupils: English language, if he will provide the same information for  (a) 2004 and  (b) 1999.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 9 February 2009
	The requested information has been placed in the Library.

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools were in the National Challenge as at 25 January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There is good progress towards meeting the National Challenge. In 2007 there were 631 schools where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieved five A*-C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE. This figure has reduced to 440 on the basis of final published data which is a reduction of 191 schools. All schools below the threshold will receive bespoke support as appropriate from the National Challenge.

Anorexia: Internet

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the Pro Ana web sites relating to anorexia; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with ministerial colleagues. Responsibility for the regulation of the internet rests with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	The Department is concerned about the risks posed by websites which encourage anorexia or bulimia, but cannot take any legal action against them. Such sites are not in themselves illegal and may also be hosted overseas.
	We continue to explore a variety of courses of action. For example, we have worked with a media agency which offered their expertise pro bono to run advertisements directing youngsters to more appropriate sites.

Complementary Medicine

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of  (a) the side-effects of (i) Vioxx, (ii) SSRI antidepressants and (iii) Salmeterol and  (b) the use of complementary and alternative medicines to treat the conditions such drugs were developed to address.

Dawn Primarolo: The safety and efficacy of medicinal products is formally assessed from clinical trials submitted at the time of marketing authorisation. These data are carefully evaluated by the independent scientific advisory committee, the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), and the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) prior to authorisation for evidence that the products work and are acceptably safe. The longer term safety of the use of medicines in routine clinical practice is closely monitored by the MHRA, including reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) submitted by health professionals and patients through the Yellow Card scheme, to ensure that benefit risk balance continues to be favourable.
	The safety of Vioxx (rofecoxib), the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) and salmeterol has been under continuous review by the MHRA since these medicinal products were first authorised. Any new data or possible safety issue to emerge has been carefully evaluated and, as necessary, appropriate action taken to update the product information for prescribers and patients to reflect the emerging safety profile and where necessary revised prescribing advice has been issued.
	Vioxx (rofecoxib) was a selective COX-2 inhibitor, a type of non-selective anti-inflammatory drug, licensed for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and acute pain conditions. In 2000, comparative clinical trial data raised concerns over the risk of heart attacks and other thrombotic cardiovascular events in association with use of rofecoxib. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM, the predecessor to the CHM) reviewed the safety of rofecoxib on several occasions between 2000 and 2003. This led to updates to product information and prescribing advice on the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events. In 2004, the manufacturers of rofecoxib withdrew the product after clinical trial data comparing rofecoxib with placebo (a dummy pill) provided the first definitive evidence of an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, evident after 18 months of treatment. The safety of other selective COX-2 inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was fully reviewed between 2004 and 2006 and the conclusion was that the benefits of the authorised NSAIDs continue to outweigh the risks in the licensed indications.
	SSRI antidepressants are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Ongoing concerns about the safety of the SSRIs in early 2003 prompted a review by an Expert Working Group of the CSM of the risk of suicidal behaviour and withdrawal reactions associated with the SSRIs. The Expert Working Group conducted a comprehensive review of the safety of this entire class of drugs, examining all available evidence and reviewing all the regulatory advice issued. The MHRA published key findings and updated advice to healthcare professionals and patients as the review progressed.
	Salmeterol is a long-acting adrenoceptor beta agonist (LABA) used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The CSM and CHM have reviewed the safety of salmeterol on a number of occasions, leading to updates to product information and communications to remind healthcare professionals of the appropriate use of LABA in the treatment of asthma. The balance of risks and benefits of LABA was recently reviewed at the request of CHM, and was considered positive in the treatment of asthma in adults and adolescents, provided LABA are used with inhaled corticosteroids. The outcome of the review was published in the MHRA bulletin Drug Safety Update, which is available on the MHRA website.
	There are currently no complementary or alternative medicines with marketing authorisations for the treatment of major conditions such as osteoarthritis, depression or asthma therefore the MHRA does not hold any information on the usage of complementary and alternative medicines for these conditions.
	Some years ago the MHRA considered a number of applications for marketing authorisations for products containing St. John's Wort ( Hypericum perforatum L.) for mild to moderate depression. However, the applications were refused due to lack of adequate evidence of safety and efficacy.

Dementia: Devon

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with  (a) Alzheimer's disease and  (b) dementia in (i) East Devon constituency and (ii) Devon in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) records the number of people recorded on practice disease registers with a diagnosis of dementia but this does not distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The publication 'Revisions to the GMS Contract 2006/07', from NHS Employers, states that Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50-75 per cent. of cases of dementia. This register count is available for the two latest releases of QOF, covering 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	We are unable to supply this information for parliamentary constituencies, as the data are only available for general practices (GPs) and can be aggregated to primary care trust (PCT) level. We have supplied figures for the smallest health area that covers Devon, namely Devon PCT.
	These QOF figures are given in the following table. They are the totals for patients with dementia.
	
		
			  QOF datanumber of patients on the Dementia disease registers 
			  Financial year  2007-08  2006-07 
			 Devon PCT 3,527 3,388 
			  Source: The data supplied in the table above is published on the website of the Information Centre for health and social care. (a) For 2007-08 see the Quality and Outcomes Framework 2007/08 publication data tables at the following link (published 30 September 2008): www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2007/08/data-tables The table for PCT level QOF for 2007-08 can be found at the following link: www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2007-08/NewFilesGS/QOF0708_PCTs_Prevalence.xls This publication has already been placed in the Library. (b) For 2006-07 see Quality and Outcomes Framework 2006/07 publication data tables at this link (published 28 September 2007): www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2006/07/qof-2006-07-data-tables The table for PCT level QOF for 2006-07 can be found at this link: www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2006-07/QOF0607_PCTs_Prevalence.xls This publication has already been placed in the Library.  Notes: 1. QOF is the national Quality and Outcomes Framework, introduced as part of the new General Medical Services contract on 1 April 2004. 2. Participation by practices in the QOF is voluntary, though participation rates are very high, with most Personal Medical Services practices also taking part. 3. The published QOF information was derived from the Quality Management Analysis System (QMAS), a national system developed by NHS Connecting for Health. 4. QMAS uses data from general practices to calculate individual practices' QOF achievement. QMAS is a national information technology system developed by NHS Connecting for Health to support the QOF. 5. The system calculates practice achievement against national targets. It gives general practices, PCTs and strategic health authorities objective evidence and feedback on the quality of care delivered to patients. 6. QMAS captures the number of patients on the various disease registers for each practice. The number of patients on the clinical registers can be used to calculate measures of disease prevalence, expressing the number of patients on each register as a percentage of the number of patients on practices' lists. 7. Figures presented here are just the number of patients on the disease register for dementia.

Dental Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practising dentists there were in  (a) the North Yorkshire and York primary care trust area and  (b) England on 1 April in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The numbers of national health service dentists, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 are available in annex E of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006. Information is available by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT).
	This measure counted the number of NHS dentists recorded on PCT lists as at 31 March each year. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity
	The numbers of dentists with NHS activity during the years ending 31 March, 2007 and 2008 are available in table G1 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2007/08 report. Information is provided by SHA and by PCT. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006. This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0708
	This measure is based on a revised methodology and therefore supersedes previously published work force figures relating to the new dental contractual arrangements. It is not comparable to the information collected under the old contractual arrangements. This revised methodology counted the number of dental performers with NHS activity recorded via FP17 claim forms in each year ending 31 March.
	Both sets of published figures relate to headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.

General Practitioners

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 693W, on general practitioners, what reasons have been identified for the reduction in numbers of GP referrals to consultants between 2003-04 and 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not undertaken any specific research into the reasons for the slight decrease in general practitioner (GP) referrals to first consultant-led outpatient appointments between the period 2003-04 to 2007-08.
	
		
			  GP written referrals for first outpatient appointment (consultant-led): All specialties, England provider based 
			   Number of GP referrals made 
			 1997-98 8,991,722 
			 1998-99 9,139,785 
			 1999-2000 9,141,425 
			 2000-01 9,362,770 
			 2001-02 9,470,342 
			 2002-03 9,655,874 
			 2003-04 9,802,237 
			 2004-05 9,776,914 
			 2005-06 9,785,960 
			 2006-07 9,337,136 
			 2007-08 9,639,029 
			  Source: Department of Health, QM08, KH09, QAR (Quarterly Activity Return). 
		
	
	To improve the appropriateness of care patients receive, i.e. the right treatment from the right health care professional, in the right place and at the right time, the Department has issued guidance to the NHS 'Care and Resource Utilisation' (December 2006) (a copy of which has been placed in the Library), which sets out a range of ways in which primary care trusts and clinicians can work together to improve care provided to patients.

Heart Diseases

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were  (a) diagnosed with and  (b) received treatment for heart disease in (i) England, (ii) the North East, (iii) the Tees Valley district and (iv) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: Please see the following tables and notes.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of people diagnosed with heart disease 
			  Financial year  Stockton on Tees Teaching primary care trust (PCT)( 1)  Middlesbrough PCT( 2)  Redcar and Cleveland PCT( 3)  North East total( 4)  England 
			 2007-08 7,943 6,513 6,901 127,972 1,892,432 
			 2006-07 8,007 6,537 6,982 129,478 1,898,565 
			 2005-06 8,063 8,485 5,204 131,123 1,900,640 
			 2004-05 8,079 8,541 5,313 131,668 1,893,184 
			 (1) Formerly North Tees PCT. Following the PCT reconfiguration in 2006  (2) a part of Middlesbrough PCT joined with others to form Redcar and Cleveland PCT. Middlesbrough PCT remained but as a smaller PCT.  (3) Langbaurgh PCT merged with a part of Middlesbrough PCT and became Redcar and Cleveland PCT.  (4) For 2007-08 and 2006-07 the North East total is the total for North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA). For 2005-06 and 2004-05 the North East total is the sum of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA and County Durham and Tees Valley SHA. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of people who received treatment for heart diseaseActivity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Financial year  Stockton on Tees Teaching PCT( 1)  Middlesbrough PCT( 2)  Redcar and Cleveland PCT( 3)  North East( 4)  England 
			 2006-07 1,033 639 608 16,374 310,642 
			 2005-06 1,145 885 491 16,363 312,164 
			 2004-05 1,234 1,028 554 16,987 311,532 
			 2003-04 1,134 1,146 609 17,934 310,418 
			 2002-03 1,163 1,188 644 18,465 306,380 
			 2001-02 1,159 1,275 734 18,812 295,050 
			 2000-01 1,124 1,372 738 20,113 293,911 
			 1999-00 1,109 1,474 779 19,723 289,729 
			 1998-99 974 1,500 752 19,691 290,391 
			 1997-98 957 1,352 665 18,289 284,269 
			 (1) Formerly North Tees PCT. Following the PCT reconfiguration in 2006  (2) a part of Middlesbrough PCT joined with others to form Redcar and Cleveland PCT. Middlesbrough PCT remained but as a smaller PCT.  (3) Langbaurgh PCT merged with a part of Middlesbrough PCT and became Redcar and Cleveland PCT.  (4) For 2007-08 and 2006-07 the North East total is the total for North East SHA. For previous years the North East total is the sum of the constituent organisations existing at the time.   Notes:  The Information Centre (IC) have provided data from the national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) to answer part (a) and data from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) to answer part (b). (a) The national QOF records the number of people recorded on practice disease registers. A register exists for coronary heart disease (CHD). Register counts are available for the last four financial years. The IC are unable to supply information for all the areas requested as some are not health regions. Where this occurs we have supplied information for the health areas that best fit those requested. Furthermore, some of these health areas have changed under the reconfiguration of PCTs and SHAs in 2006. (b) Figures from the HES give a count of hospital admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). This is not a count of people treated as the same person could have been admitted several times and this also excludes treatment taking place in primary care.  Definitions  Table 1 QOF is the national Quality and Outcomes Framework, introduced as part of the new General Medical Services contract on 1 April 2004. Participation by practices in the QOF is voluntary, though participation rates are very high, with most Personal Medical Services practices also taking part. The published QOF information was derived from the Quality Management Analysis System (QMAS), a national system developed by NHS Connecting for Health. QMAS uses data from general practices to calculate individual practices' QOF achievement. QMAS is a national IT system developed by NHS Connecting for Health to support the QOF. The system calculates practice achievement against national targets. It gives general practices, PCTs and SHAs objective evidence and feedback on the quality of care delivered to patients. The QMAS captures the number of patients on the various disease registers for each practice. The number of patients on the clinical registers can be used to calculate measures of disease prevalence, expressing the number of patients on each register as a percentage of the number of patients on practices' lists.  CHD Registerdefinition In order to call and recall patients effectively in any disease category and in order to be able to report on indicators for coronary heart disease, practices must be able to identify their patient population with CHD. This will include all patients who have had coronary artery revascularisation procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients with Cardiac Syndrome X should generally not be included in the CHD register. Practices should record those with a past history of myocardial infarction as well as those with a history of CHD.  Table 2 Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Finished admission episodes (hospital admissions) A finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. The ICD-10 codes used to identify CHD are as follows: 120Angina pectoris 121Acute Myocardial infarction 122Subsequent myocardial infarction 123Certain current complications following acute myocardial infarction 124Other acute ischaemic heart diseases. 125Chronic ischaemic heart disease.  Number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary diagnosis These figures represent the number of episodes where the diagnosis was recorded in the primary diagnosis field in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record.  Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  PCT/SHA data quality PCT and SHA data was added to historic data years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Heart Diseases: Medical Treatments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27th January,  Official Report, column 403W, on heart disease: medical treatments, which primary care trusts have permitted the funding of transcatheter aortic valve implants.

Ann Keen: The Department does not collect this information centrally. The Specialised Services Commissioning Groups, which are responsible for decisions on funding highly specialised services (subject to the funding priorities of their constituent primary care trusts), are in the process of agreeing a framework based on service criteria agreed by the relevant professional societies which will lead to designation of certain centres for this procedure within each strategic health authority area. Designated centres would then receive funding. It is understood that Yorkshire and Humberside Specialised Commissioning Group has already reached an agreement ahead of finalising the commissioning framework.

Hospitals: Admissions

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the five most common causes of admission to hospital for  (a) children and  (b) adults were in the latest period for which statistics are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The five most common reasons for admission to hospital for  (a) children and  (b) adults, where children are defined as under 16 years of age and adults over 16 years of age, in the latest period for which data are available are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  16 and under (children) 
			  Primary diagnosis( 1)  Number of finished admission episodes( 2) 
			 (Liveborn infants according to place of birth(3) 452,451) 
			 Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites 41,494 
			 Disorders relating to short gestation and low birth weight 40,363 
			 Dental caries(4) 36,530 
			 Viral infection of unspecified site 34,800 
			 Acute tonsillitis 32,674 
		
	
	
		
			  Over 16 (adults) 
			  Primary diagnosis( 1)  Number of finished admission episodes( 2) 
			 Pain in throat and chest 257,113 
			 Abdominal and pelvic pain 237,959 
			 Other cataract 193,986 
			 Malignant neoplasm of breast 154,765 
			 Perineal laceration during delivery 144,848 
			 (1 )Primary diagnosisThe primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was treated in hospital. (2 )Finished admission episodesA finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (3 )Z38 (Liveborn infants according to place of birth) is used as a diagnosis code for babies who are well and do not require any care. Every episode (including birth episodes) must contain a primary diagnosis so this code is used for 'well babies'. To account for this, we have provided the top six most common conditions for 16 and under children. (4 )Prior to 2001 general dental practitioners (GDPs) were allowed to give general anaesthetics for dental procedures within their practices. Following their acceptance of the recommendations in the report A Conscious Decision Ministers agreed that by 31 December 2001 general anaesthesia for dental treatment should be administered in a hospital setting with critical care facilities . During 2001 regulations were put in place in respect of the administration of general anaesthesia for dental treatment under arrangements to provide general dental services and in the private sector. Thus anyone doing this in the primary care setting for the last year had to be inspected and registered by their local health authority. The large numbers of general anaesthetics undertaken by general dental practitioners (GDPs) and also the Community Dental Service had to be transferred to the hospital setting. Currently a large proportion of those general anaesthetics for treatment of dental caries are provided by the Salaried Dental Services, but out of acute hospital Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery departments under a services level agreement. They are usually out-patient in nature but because general anaesthetic has been given are counted as elective procedures.  Note:  Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Data year 2006-07.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Mental Health Services: Expenditure

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on  (a) child and adolescent mental health services and  (b) adult mental health services in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: Data on additional funding given to the national health service and local authorities between 1999-2000 and 2007-08 for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is in the following table. This funding is additional to expenditure from NHS and local authority baseline budgets. The annual CAMHS Mapping, which started in 2003-04, has reported the total expenditure by the NHS and local authorities on CAMHS as follows: 2003-04322 million; 2004-05431million; 2005-06461 million; 2006-07523 million.
	
		
			  Department of Health CAMHS funding 1999-2000 to 2007-08 
			million 
			 1999-2000 10 
			 2000-01 20 
			 2001-02 35 
			 2002-03 20 
			 2003-04 47 
			 2004-05 103 
			 2005-06 159 
			 2006-07 86 
			 2007-08 119 
			 Notes: 1. Allocations in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2007-08 included NHS capital funding. In 2007-08 this was specifically used to increase the number of in-patient beds for children and young people. Since 2006-07, CAMHS NHS revenue funding has been included in baseline allocations. 2. Data on adult mental health services spending over 10 years is not available. Information provided is for working age adults over the last seven years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Total expenditure on adult mental health services from 2001-02 to 2007-08 at 2007-08 pay and price levels 
			   Total investment ( billion) 
			 2001-02 3.844 
			 2002-03 4.253 
			 2003-04 4.394 
			 2004-05 4.902 
			 2005-06 5.209 
			 2006-07 5.330 
			 2007-08 5.530 
			  Note: The data reports on planned investment on working age adults only.  Source: Mental Health Strategies

Mental Health Services: Nurses

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered mental health nurses were employed in the NHS in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The number of registered mental health nurses that were employed in the national health service in each of the last 10 years is show in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS Hospital and Community Health Service: Qualified nursing staff in England by each specified area of work as at 30 September each specified year. 
			   All areas of work 
			 1998 48,877 
			 1999 48,922 
			 2000 49,026 
			 2001 51,315 
			 2002 52,204 
			 2003 53,678 
			 2004 56,046 
			 2005 57,377 
			 2006 56,061 
			 2007 56,117 
			  Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census. 
		
	
	The number of mental health nurses has increased by 14.8 per cent. from 48,877 in 1998 to 46,117 in 2007.

MRSA

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Clean Safe Care strategy for reducing MRSA infections and deaths.

Ann Keen: The Clean, safe care strategy was published in January 2008, and gave an overview of our strategy and initiatives, many of which were already well established, to tackle health care associated infections (HCAIs) and improve cleanliness. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library.
	We have significantly reduced meticillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The latest Health Protection Agency data for July to September 2008 shows a reduction in MRSA bloodstream infections of 33 per cent. compared to the same quarter in 2007. In 2008, the national health service met the nationwide target to halve the number of MRSA bloodstream infections compared to 2003-04 levels. Latest figures also show a 62 per cent. reduction compared to the quarterly average in 2003-04, making further progress.
	The number of death certificates that mentioned MRSA decreased by 4 per cent. from 1,652 in 2006 to 1,593 in 2007. This is the first time the number of death certificates mentioning MRSA has fallen since ONS records began in 1993.
	The following table details the number of death certificates with MRSA mentioned and MRSA as the underlying cause, England and Wales, 2003-07.
	
		
			  Number of death certificates in England and Wales 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Mentions of MRSA 968 1,138 1,649 1,652 1,593 
			 Number of these where underlying cause of death is MRSA 322 357 465 519 460 
			  Source: ONS Health Statistics Quarterly. 
		
	
	Many patients who become infected with a HCAI have other serious and potentially fatal underlying medical conditions. Doctors are not supposed to record all diseases or conditions present at death, only those that contribute directly to it. It is a matter of individual professional judgment whether the doctor lists an HCAI as a contributory cause. There have been a number of initiatives to raise the profile of HCAIs and improve their acknowledgment as diagnoses in their own right. In October 2007 and July 2005 the chief medical officer reminded doctors of the importance of giving full and accurate information on the death certificate, particularly in relation to HCAIs.
	We have commissioned an evaluation of the effectiveness the HCAI and Cleanliness Improvement Programme (one strand of the Clean, safe care strategy) with a specific focus on the work streams focused on reductions in the incidence of MRSA. We are also commissioning work to understand the ways in which hospital cleanliness relates to other aspects of a good environment, and how this might have an impact on HCAIs. These studies are in their initial stages and will provide results later in 2009.

MRSA

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS clinical staff who are carriers of MRSA.

Ann Keen: It is estimated that 3-5 per cent. of staff are colonised with meticillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus.

Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the official engagements of Ministers in his Department were from 1 November to 30 November 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Details of official engagements from 1 November to 30 November 
			  DH Minister  Date of meeting  Organisation 
			 Secretary of State, Alan Johnson 4 November 2008 Health Oral Questions 
			  5 November 2008 Meeting on Government Response to Carol Black's Review 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingIranian Minister of Health 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingDavid Blunkett MP and CEO, Alzheimer's Society 
			  6 November 2008 Cabinet 
			  6 November 2008 Closing the Gap: Health Equality through Action on the Social Determinants of HealthSpeech to conference 
			  6 November 2008 Q and A to NHS Confed Employers Conference 
			  6 November 2008 MeetingBrazilian Minister of Health 
			  8 November 2008 VisitSilver Star Diabetes Centre 
			  9 November 2008 Politics Show 
			  10 November 2008 Cabinet Committee 
			  10 November 2008 MeetingLord MandelsonPharmaceutical Industry 
			  11 November 2008 Armistice Day ceremony 
			  11 November 2008 Cabinet 
			  11-14 November 2008 International visit to WashingtonSpeech 
			  17 November 2008 MeetingChair, East Midlands SHA 
			  17 November 2008 MeetingRoyal Brampton Hospital 
			  18 November 2008 Cabinet 
			  18 November 2008 Children's Plan Conference 
			  18 November 2008 MeetingChair, South West SHA 
			  18 November 2008 British Energy and MS Society Reception 
			  19 November 2008 Evidence to Health Select Committee 
			  20 November 2008 MeetingChinese Health Minister 
			  20 November 2008 National Stakeholder Forum Meeting 
			  24 November 2008 Cabinet 
			  25 November 2008 Event for Launch of Dame Carol Black Review 
			  25 November 2008 MeetingAustralian High Commissioner 
			  25 November 2008 Ministerial Industry Strategy Group 
			  26 November 2008 Meeting with Dr. Richard Taylor MP and Prof. Mike RichardsRichards Review 
			  26 November 2008 Event to celebrate 35 years of United Response (UR) 
			  27 November 2008 New Savoy Partnership Conference Psychological Therapies in the NHS speech + 
			  28 November 2008 Visit to Hillside Bridge Healthcare Centre 
			  28 November 2008 Regional CabinetLeeds 
			
			 Minister of State (Health Services)Ben Bradshaw Minister for the South West 4 November 2008 Health Oral Questions 
			  5 November 2008 Visit to NHS North of Tyne 
			  7 November 2008 Regional Economic Work Task force meeting (as Regional Minister for the South West) 
			  10 November 2008 Visit to TwoFour Studios (as Regional Minister for the South West) 
			  11 November 2008 DebateThe Medical Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 202008 
			  12 November 2008 Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities Parliamentary Group 
			  12 November 2008 MeetingNeil Turner MP re: Health Inequalities through primary care trust allocations 
			  12 November 2008 ConferenceRegional Development Agency's Annual Public meeting 
			  12 November 2008 ReceptionThird Annual HSJ 50 Celebration 
			  13 November 2008 Ministers' Regions Summit 
			  14 November 2008 Telephone callChief Inspector, CSCI 
			  17 November 2008 MeetingChair of the Socialist Health Association 
			  17 November 2008 DebateAffirmative regs for the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 202008 
			  17 November 2008 Adjournment DebateHealthcare in Sutton 
			  18 November 2008 Adjournment DebateGovernment policy on people with strokes 
			  18 November 2008 MeetingRuth Carnall CBE to discuss London 
			  18 November 2008 MeetingMuscular Dystrophy Campaign 
			  19 November 2008 SHA Chairs monthly meeting 
			  20 November 2008 National Stakeholder Forum 
			  20 November 2008 SpeechExcellence Awards (as Regional Minister for the South West) 
			  21 November 2008 MeetingRegional Director, Environmental Agency (as Regional Minister for the South West) 
			  24 November 2008 MeetingChairmen of the National Association of Primary Care 
			  25 November 2008 NHS Confederation 
			  25 November 2008 Breakfast briefing meeting with Trisha GoddardPatient Choice 
			  25 November 2008 DinnerNHS Confederation London PCT Policy Chairs Dinner 
			  26 November 2008 SpeechSouth West Forum Annual Conference 202008 (as Regional Minister for the South West) 
			  27 November 2008 MeetingHealthcare Commission 
			
			 Minister of State(Public Health) Dawn Primarolo 4 November 2008 Health Oral Questions 
			  5 November 2008 SpeechNational Alcohol ConferenceNottingham 
			  5 November 2008 SpeechReception of the Commission on Social Determinants for Health International ConferenceLondon 
			  6 November 2008 Commission on Social Determinants for Health International ConferenceLondon (Including a Dinner and a speech) 
			  6 November 2008 Media Interview with the Observer 
			  10 November 2008 MeetingGerman Health Minister 
			  10 November 2008 Cabinet Committee 
			  10 November 2008 Launch for Change4Life 
			  11 November 2008 You and Yours programme 
			  11 November 2008 MeetingForesight Review Officials 
			  11 November 2008 MediaHealthy Towns 
			  12 November 2008 MeetingBaroness Gould 
			  12 November 2008 MeetingGisela Stewart MP 
			  12 November 2008 Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) 
			  13 November 2008 Westminster Hall DebateTackling Obesity 
			  13 November 2008 MeetingMarie WoolfJournalist 
			  17 November 2008 Reception for those who worked on Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 
			  19 November 2008 SpeechIDeA (Improvement and Development Agency) Conference 
			  20 November 2008 Adjournment DebateOrgan Donation 
			  20 November 202008 National Stakeholder Forum 
			  21-24 November 2008 International Trip to Libya 
			  25 November 2008 Select Committee on Pandemic Influenza 
			  25 November 2008 SpeechFabian Society Conference 
			  25 November 2008 Phone callMinister for Health Northern Ireland 
			  25 November 2008 MeetingJapanese Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association 
			  26 November 2008 SpeechFitness Industry Association 
			  26 November 2008 Phone callMinister of Health for Wales 
			  27 November 2008 Phone callMinister of Health for Scotland 
			  26 November 2008 Faculty of Family Planning Association 
			
			 Minister of State (Care Services)Phil Hope Minister for the East Midlands 3 November 2008 Social Care and Support event, Norwich 
			  3 November 2008 Dignity VisitJulian Hospital, Norwich 
			  4 November 2008 Health Oral Questions 
			  4 November 2008 SpeechTUC event, London 
			  4 November 2008 MeetingCouncil of Regional Ministers, London 
			  4 November 2008 National Autistic Society Reception 
			  4 November 2008 Cabinet Committee 
			  5 November 2008 Cross-Government meetingGovernment response to Dame Carol Black's review 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingAlzheimer's Society 
			  7 November 2008 SpeechSkills for care accolade event, London 
			  10 November 2008 Social Care and Support eventBrighton 
			  10 November 2008 Dignity VisitBrighton 
			  11 November 2008 SpeechLocal Government Association event, Health and Well-being, London 
			  11 November 2008 MeetingPresident, Royal College of Psychiatrists 
			  11 November 2008 SpeechHelp the Aged, London 
			  12 November 2008 SpeechEnglish Community Care Association (ECCA) national conference 
			  12 November 2008 SpeechCarers UK Summit, London 
			  18 November 2008 SpeechMental Health Providers Forum Conference, London 
			  19 November 2008 SpeechPacesetters programme, London 
			  19 November 2008 SpeechLocal Government Information Unit Conference on Services for Older people 
			  19 November 2008 Human Rights Inquiry Event 
			  19 November 2008 Cabinet Committee 
			  19 November 2008 SpeechCounsel and Care parliamentary reception 
			  19 November 2008 SpeechAll Party Parliamentary Group on Social Enterprise 
			  20 November 2008 MeetingAnnual Performance Assessment of Councils for 2007-2008 
			  20 November 2008 Speech2010 and Beyond :A new Era for Mental Health Policy in the UK, London 
			  20 November 2008 SpeechNational Stakeholder 
			  20 November 2008 Social Enterprise Visit 
			  22 November 2008 Final care support independence event, Birmingham 
			  25 November 2008 SpeechDignity in Care Conference 
			  25 November 2008 Meetingmembers of Law commission 
			  26 November 2008 Life Chances Ministerial Group 
			  26 November 2008 MeetingLloyds Pharmacy 
			  26 November 2008 MeetingAlzheimer's Research Trust 
			  27 November 2008 Telecare conference event, London 
			
			 Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords) Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, KBE 3 November 2008 MeetingFoundation Trust and NHS Confederation 
			  3 November 2008 MeetingNational Association of Colitis and Crohn's Disease 
			  3 November 2008 MeetingHumana Europe 
			  4 November 2008 Oral StatementTop ups 
			  4 November 2008 MeetingThe Academy of Medical Sciences 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingThe Health Foundation 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingAPAX 
			  5 November 2008 VisitNorthgate Clinic 
			  6 November 2008 MeetingHealthTalkOnline 
			  6 November 2008 MeetingNHS Alliance 
			  6 November 2008 MeetingMonitor 
			  10 November 2008 MeetingHealthcare Commission 
			  10 November 2008 MeetingBUPA 
			  11 November 2008 MeetingRoyal College of Midwives 
			   Royal College of Anaesthetists 
			   Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 
			   Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 
			   Academy of Medical Royal Colleges 
			   Royal College of Surgeons of England 
			   Royal College of Physicians 
			   Royal College of General Practitioners 
			
			  11 November 2008 MeetingDr. Foster Intelligence 
			  12-14 November 2008 International visit to WashingtonSpeech 
			  18 November 2008 MeetingNHS Consultant's Association 
			  19 November 2008 MeetingLondon Assembly 
			  19 November 2008 MeetingFlorence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery 
			  20 November 2008 Oral PQ 
			  26 November 2008 Visit to Keele University 
			
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health, Ann Keen 3 November 2008 ReceptionRoyal College of Pathologists 
			  4 November 2008 Health Oral Questions 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingRNIB 
			  5 November 2008 MeetingThe Lindsey Leg Club Foundation 
			  5 November 2008 SpeechHuman Tissue Authority 
			  5 November 2008 SpeechChief Nursing Officers summit 
			  6 November 2008 SpeechNHS Employers Annual Conference 
			  11 November 2008 SpeechAll Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer 
			  11 November 2008 MeetingRoyal College of Midwives 
			  12 November 2008 EventNursing Times Awards 
			  14 November 2008 VisitOpening Nursing and Midwifery Campus 
			  18 November 2008 SpeechAntibiotic Awareness Day 
			  18 November 2008 SpeechSecond Children's Plan Conference 
			  18 November 2008 SpeechWorld Diabetes Day 
			  19 November 2008 SpeechWorld Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day 
			  21 November 2008 VisitHarefield Heart Centre and Harefield Hospital 
			  25 November 2008 SpeechHealthcare for London Conference 
			  25 November 2008 SpeechA Framework for Violence and Abuse Prevention

Transplant Surgery

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 827-32W, on transplant surgery: figures, if he will break down by year the figures given for organ and ocular tissue transplants in the UK.

Ann Keen: Information showing organ and ocular tissue transplants in the United Kingdom in each year since 1998, broken down by transplant centre and organ, has been placed in the Library.